Phase I clinical trial of serotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia with an immunoglobulin M monoclonal antibody to CD15.

Sixteen patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were treated with a continuous i.v. infusion of mAb PM-81, an IgM mAb directed against the cellular differentiation antigen CD15, which is expressed on leukemia cells of >95% of patients with AML. MAb PM-81, also referred to as MDX-11, is capable of activating human and rabbit complement and lysing CD15-positive AML cells. In this Phase I study, patients were treated with 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/kg MDX-11 delivered over a 24-h period followed by conventional chemotherapy. Transient decreases in circulating blast cells postinfusion (prior to chemotherapy) were observed at all doses. We were able to show MDX-11 binding to bone marrow blasts in those patients who achieved stable serum levels of MDX-11. Serum MDX-11 was detectable at the 1. 0- and 1.5-mg/kg doses. Doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg were generally well tolerated, with no toxicities greater than grade II (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) reported. However, two of five patients receiving the 1.5-mg/kg dose experienced grade IV toxicities that resolved with treatment (one of these patients completed the infusion). Common toxicities reported included fever, chills, and hypotension. Only one patient developed human antimouse antibodies at 4 weeks posttreatment. This study determined that 1.0 mg/kg is a biologically effective dose that can be administered safely with little toxicity. Based on these results, we are pursuing a Phase I/II study of MDX-11 infusion following chemotherapy for patients with relapsed AML.