Summary

This phase II trial studies the effect of nivolumab in combination with blinatumomab compared to blinatumomab alone in treating patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) that has come back (relapsed). Down syndrome patients with relapsed B-ALL are included in this study. Blinatumomab is an antibody, which is a protein that identifies and targets specific molecules in the body. Blinatumomab searches for and attaches itself to the cancer cell. Once attached, an immune response occurs which may kill the cancer cell. Nivolumab is a medicine that may boost a patient’s immune system. Giving nivolumab in combination with blinatumomab may cause the cancer to stop growing for a period of time, and for some patients, it may lessen the symptoms, such as pain, that are caused by the cancer.

Objectives

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To compare rate of minimal residual disease (MRD) negative second remission (Rem-2) after up to two cycles of reinduction with blinatumomab versus (vs.) blinatumomab/nivolumab in Group 1 patients aged >= 1 to < 31 years old with first relapse of CD19+ B-ALL.
II. To compare event-free survival (EFS) PI (EFS post-induction) between consolidation with blinatumomab vs. blinatumomab/nivolumab in Group 3 patients aged >= 1 to < 31 years old with first relapse of CD19+ B ALL.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To evaluate the safety and tolerability of blinatumomab/nivolumab in patients aged >= 1 to < 31 years old with first relapse of CD19+ B ALL.
II. To compare EFS PI between blinatumomab vs. blinatumomab/nivolumab in Group 2 patients aged >= 1 to < 31 years old with first relapse of CD19+ B ALL.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:
I. In Group 1 patients, compare EFS between blinatumomab monotherapy and blinatumomab/nivolumab arms as compared to similar patients treated on the predecessor trial AALL1331.
II. In Group 1 patients, compare toxicity as defined by grade 3 or greater adverse events during the first cycle of blinatumomab or blinatumomab/nivolumab to similar patients treated with block 1 of cytotoxic chemotherapy on the predecessor trial AALL1331.
III. In Group 2 patients with MRD >= 0.1% after vincristine sulfate, dexamethasone, pegylated asparaginase, and doxorubicin hydrochloride (VXLD), compare MRD negative second remission (Rem-2) rate after the first cycle of immunotherapy between blinatumomab monotherapy and blinatumomab/nivolumab arms.
IV. In patients with Down syndrome (DS) with first relapse of B-ALL, describe the safety, tolerability and efficacy (as defined by MRD negative second remission, Rem-2) after up to two cycles of blinatumomab/nivolumab.
V. With each Group, perform subset analyses of EFS and overall survival (OS) based on features including degree of marrow disease at relapse, age, sex, body mass index, cytogenetics, site(s) of relapse, percent peripheral blasts at relapse and absolute lymphocyte count at first relapse.

OUTLINE: Patients >= 18 years old with marrow +/- extramedullary (EM) relapse of any duration after initial diagnosis, or patients < 18 years old with marrow +/- EM relapse < 24 months after initial diagnosis are assigned to Group 1. Patients < 18 years old with marrow +/- EM relapse >= 24 months from initial diagnosis, or all isolated extramedullary (IEM) relapses >= 1 to < 31 years old are assigned to Groups 2-3 re-induction. Patients with DS are assigned to Arm G. NOTE: Patients in Group 1 and DS patients with white blood cells (WBC) >= 30,000/uL, CNS 2/3 disease, or testicular disease must first receive 1 of 3 pre-immunotherapy treatments.

PRE-IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH WBC >= 30,000/uL: Patients receive methotrexate (MTX) intrathecally (IT) or cytarabine IT or intrathecal triple therapy (ITT) consisting of MTX, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, and cytarabine IT at the time of diagnostic lumbar puncture (LP) or on day 1 (if intrathecal therapy is given with relapse diagnostic LP < 7 days prior to the start of protocol therapy). Patients also receive dexamethasone intravenously (IV) or orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-5, vincristine sulfate via infusion or IV IV push over 1 minute on day 1. Patients with DS also receive leucovorin calcium PO or IV every 6 hours (q6h) for 2 doses on day 2 or at 24 and 30 hours after each IT administration. Patients should proceed to the next cycle when CNS 1 and no testicular disease is present, no sooner than Day 8 and no later than Day 15.

PRE-IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR CNS 2/3 DISEASE: Patients receive MTX IT or cytarabine IT twice weekly (Q2W) for 5-7 doses or Intrathecal Triple Therapy (ITT) IT Q2W for 3-4 doses until patient is CNS 1. Patients with DS also receive leucovorin calcium PO or IV q6h for 2 doses at 24 and 30 hours after each IT administration. Patients should proceed to the next cycle when CNS 1 and no testicular disease is present, no sooner than Day 15 and no later than Day 24.

PRE-IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR TESTICULAR DISEASE: Patients receive MTX IT, cytarabine IT, or ITT IT on days 1 and 15 (day 1 may be omitted if intrathecal therapy is given with relapse diagnostic LP < 7 days prior to the start of protocol therapy). Patients with DS also receive leucovorin calcium PO or IV q6h for 2 doses on days 2 and 16 or at 24 and 30 hours after each IT administration. Males with testicular disease at relapse undergo radiation once daily (QD) for a total of 12 fractions over 12 days. Patients should proceed to the next cycle when CNS 1 and no testicular disease is present, no sooner than Day 15 and no later than Day 22.

GROUP 1: Patients are randomized to Arm A or Arm B.

ARM A: Patients receive dexamethasone PO or IV on days 1 and 8 of cycle 1, blinatumomab via continuous IV infusion on days 1-28 of cycles 1-2, MTX IT, cytarabine IT, or ITT IT on days 1, 15, and 36 of cycle 1 (MTX, cytarabine, and ITT on day 1 may be omitted if intrathecal therapy was given < 7 days prior to the start of this cycle), and MTX IT, cytarabine IT, or ITT IT on days 15 and 36 of cycle 2. Treatment repeats every 36 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. NOTE: Patients with MRD < 0.01% after cycle 1 may stop study treatment or may choose to continue to cycle 2. Patients with MRD >= 0.01% after cycle 1 proceed to cycle 2.

ARM B: Patients receive dexamethasone, blinatumomab, and MTX, cytarabine, or ITT as in Arm A. Patients also receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 11 and 25 of cycle 1 and days 1 and 15 of cycle 2. Treatment repeats every 36 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. NOTE: Patients with MRD < 0.01% after cycle 1 may stop study treatment or may choose to continue to cycle 2. Patients with MRD >= 0.01% after cycle 1 proceed to cycle 2.

GROUPS 2-3 REINDUCTION: Patients receive vincristine sulfate via infusion or IV push over 1 minute on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO or IV on days 1-14, doxorubicin hydrochloride IV over 1-15 minutes on day 1, MTX IT on days 1, 8, and 29 (day 1 IT may be omitted if intrathecal therapy is given with relapse diagnostic LP < 7 days prior to the start of this cycle) (days 8 and 29 for CNS 1/2 patients at relapse only), pegaspargase intramuscularly (IM) or IV over 1-2 hours on days 2 and 16, cytarabine IT on days 4 and 11 (CNS 2 patients at relapse only), then Q2W until 3 consecutive samples are clear of blasts, and ITT IT on days 8, 15, 22, and 29 (CNS 3 patients at relapse only). Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

GROUP 2: The following patients are randomized to Arm C or Arm D: 1) >= 1 to < 31 years old, IEM relapse < 18 months from diagnosis, regardless of MRD after Re-Induction. 2) < 18 years old with marrow relapse >= 24 to < 36 months from diagnosis regardless of MRD after Re-Induction, 3) >= 1 to < 31 years old, IEM relapse >= 18 months, and MRD >= 0.1% after Re-Induction, 4) < 18 years old with marrow relapse >= 36 months, and MRD >= 0.1% after Re-Induction.

ARM C: Patients receive dexamethasone PO or IV on day 1 of cycle 1, blinatumomab via continuous IV infusion on days 1-28 of cycles 1 and 2, and MTX IT on days 1 and 15 of cycles 1 and 2 (day 1 may be omitted from cycle 1 if intrathecal MTX is given < 7 days prior to the start of cycle 1 ). Treatment repeats every 36 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. NOTE: Patients with MRD < 0.01% after cycle 1 may stop study treatment or may choose to continue to cycle 2. Patients with MRD >= 0.01% after cycle 1 proceed to cycle 2.

ARM D: Patients receive dexamethasone, blinatumomab, and MTX as in Arm C. Patients also receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 11 and 25 of cycle 1 and days 1 and 15 of cycle 2. Treatment repeats every 36 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. NOTE: Patients with MRD < 0.01% after cycle 1 may stop study treatment or may choose to continue to cycle 2. Patients with MRD >= 0.01% after cycle 1 proceed to cycle 2.

GROUP 3: The following patients are randomized to Arm E or Arm F: 1) >= 1 to < 31 years old with IEM relapse >= 18 months from diagnosis and MRD < 0.1% after Re-Induction, 2) < 18 years old with marrow relapse >= 36 months from diagnosis and MRD < 0.1% after Re-Induction.

ARM E:
IMMUNOTHERAPY CYCLES 1-2: Patients receive dexamethasone PO or IV on day 1 of cycle 1 only, blinatumomab IV via continuous infusion on days 1-28, and MTX IT on days 1 and 15 (day 1 may be omitted from cycle 1 if intrathecal therapy is given < 7 days prior to the start of this cycle). Immunotherapy Cycles 1-2 alternate with Continuation Cycles 1-2.

CONTINUATION CYCLES 1-2: Patients receive dexamethasone PO on days 1-5, vincristine sulfate IV push over 1 minute or via infusion on day 1, mercaptopurine PO on days 1-42, MTX PO on days 8, 15, 29, and 36, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 43 and 50, etoposide IV over 90-120 minutes on days 43 and 50, thioguanine PO once daily (QD) on days 43-49, and cytarabine IV over 1-30 minutes or subcutaneously (SC) on days 44-47 and 51-54. CNS 1/2 patients at relapse also receive MTX IT on days 1 and 43 and PO q6h for 4 doses on day 22, and leucovorin calcium PO q6h for 2 doses on day 24. CNS 3 patients at relapse also receive ITT IT on days 1 and 43, intermediate dose MTX IV over 36 hours on day 22, and leucovorin calcium IV or PO q6h on days 24 and 25. Treatment repeats every 8 weeks for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

IMMUNOTHERAPY CYCLE 3: Patients receive blinatumomab IV via continuous infusion on days 1-28, and MTX IT on days 1 and 15.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive dexamethasone PO BID on days 1-5, 29-33, and 57-61, vincristine sulfate IV push over 1 minute or via infusion on days 1, 29, and 57, mercaptopurine PO on days 1-84, MTX IT on day 1 (CNS 1/2 patients at relapse only), ITT IT on day 1 (CNS 3 patients at relapse only), and MTX PO on days 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78. Treatment repeats every 12 weeks for 2 years from the start of Re-Induction therapy in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

MAINTENANCE CHEMORADIATION (FOR CNS 3 PATIENTS ONLY): Beginning between the first and second cycles of maintenance therapy, patients receive dexamethasone PO BID on days 1-7 and 15-21, vincristine sulfate IV push over 1 minute or via infusion on days 1, 8, and 15, and pegaspargase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on day 1. Patients with CNS 3 and isolated CNS relapse undergo cranial radiation in the form of 3-dimensional (D)-conformal radiation therapy (CRT) over 5 days per week for a total of 10 treatments.

ARM F:
IMMUNOTHERAPY CYCLES 1-2: Patients receive dexamethasone PO or IV on day 1 of cycle 1 only, blinatumomab IV via continuous infusion on days 1-28, nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 11-25 of cycle 1 and on days 1 and 15 of cycles 2 and 3, and MTX IT on days 1 and 15 (day 1 may be omitted from cycle 1 if intrathecal therapy is given with < 7 days prior to the start of this cycle). Immunotherapy Cycles 1-2 alternate with Continuation Cycles 1-2.

CONTINUATION CYCLES 1-2: Patients receive dexamethasone PO on days 1-5, vincristine sulfate IV push over 1 minute or via infusion on day 1, mercaptopurine PO on days 1-42, MTX PO on days 8, 15, 29, and 36, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 43 and 50, etoposide IV over 90-120 minutes on days 43 and 50, thioguanine PO QD on days 43-49, and cytarabine IV over 1-30 minutes or SC on days 44-47 and 51-54. CNS 1/2 patients at relapse also receive MTX IT on days 1 and 43 and PO q6h for 4 doses on day 22, and leucovorin calcium PO q6h for 2 doses on day 24. CNS 3 patients at relapse also receive ITT IT on days 1 and 43, intermediate dose MTX IV over 36 hours on day 22, and leucovorin calcium IV or PO q6h on days 24 and 25.

IMMUNOTHERAPY CYCLE 3: Patients receive blinatumomab IV via continuous infusion on days 1-28, nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 15 and MTX IT on days 1 and 15.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive dexamethasone PO BID on days 1-5, 29-33, and 57-61, vincristine sulfate IV push over 1 minute or via infusion on days 1, 29, and 57, mercaptopurine PO on days 1-84, MTX IT on day 1 (CNS 1/2 patients at relapse only), ITT IT on day 1 (CNS 3 patients at relapse only), and MTX PO on days 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, 78. Treatment repeats every 12 weeks for 2 years from the start of Re-Induction therapy in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

MAINTENANCE CHEMORADIATION (FOR CNS 3 PATIENTS): Beginning between the first and second cycles of maintenance therapy, patients receive dexamethasone PO BID on days 1-7 and 15-21, vincristine sulfate IV push over 1 minute or via infusion on days 1, 8, and 15, and pegaspargase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on day 1. Patients with CNS 3 and isolated CNS relapse undergo cranial radiation in the form of 3D-CRT over 5 days per week for a total of 10 treatments in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM G (DS PATIENTS): Patients receive dexamethasone PO or IV on days 1 and 8 of cycle 1 only, blinatumomab IV via continuous infusion on days 1-28, nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 11 and 25 of cycle 1 and days 1 and 15 of cycle 2, and MTX IT, cytarabine IT, or ITT IT on days 1,15, and 36 of cycle 1 (MTX, cytarabine, and ITT on day 1 may be omitted if intrathecal therapy was given < 7 days prior to the start this cycle 1), MTX IT, cytarabine IT, or ITT IT on days 15 and 36 of cycle 2, and leucovorin calcium IV or PO q6h for 2 doses on days 2, 16 and 37 of cycle 1 and q6h for 2 doses on days 16 and 37 of cycle 2.

Patients with MRD < 0.01% are eligible to come off protocol therapy to receive Consolidation therapy at the end of Cycle 1, or may choose to proceed to Arm G, Cycle 2.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 1 year.

Eligibility

1. Patients must be >= 1 and < 31 years at time of enrollment
2. Patients must have first relapse of CD19+ B-ALL (relapse blasts must express CD19) in one of the following categories: * Isolated bone marrow relapse * Isolated central nervous system (CNS) (excluding known optic nerve/retinal and CNS chloromas) and/or testicular relapse * Combined bone marrow with extramedullary relapse in the CNS (excluding known optic nerve/retinal and CNS chloromas) and/or testes
3. Patients with Down syndrome (DS) are eligible in the following categories: * Isolated bone marrow relapse * Combined bone marrow with CNS (excluding known optic nerve/retinal and CNS chloromas) and/or testicular relapse
4. Patients must have a performance status corresponding to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores of 0, 1 or 2. Use Karnofsky for patients > 16 years of age and Lansky for patients =< 16 years of age * Of note, for patients with developmental delay (e.g., Down syndrome) regardless of age, Lansky scale may be substituted for Karnofsky scale. However, the requirement for ECOG 0-2 remains, regardless of known history of developmental delay
5. Patients must have fully recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy prior to entering this study * Patients with prior blinatumomab or CD19+ chimeric antigen receptor therapy in the upfront setting will be eligible, provided relapsed lymphoblasts retain CD19 expression * Radiation therapy (RT): >= 3 months must have elapsed if prior RT. This includes any patient requiring urgent radiation to any sites of extramedullary disease prior to enrollment (e.g. retinal/optic nerve involvement) * Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT): Patients must not have had a prior hematopoietic stem cell transplant * A single intrathecal chemotherapy at the time of relapse will be allowed. If < 7 days have elapsed between this intrathecal therapy (IT) and the start of protocol therapy, then the day 1 intrathecal chemotherapy (i.e. methotrexate, cytarabine, or triple intrathecal) may be omitted * In the 28 days prior to enrollment, up to five days of post-relapse, pre-enrollment therapy (steroid and/or hydroxyurea only) is permissible ** Group 1 and Down syndrome patients who received pre-enrollment therapy and have a white blood count (WBC) >= 30,000/ul at the time of enrollment must receive protocol specified cytoreductive therapy with vincristine and dexamethasone, and no “washout” is required ** Group 1 and Down syndrome patients who received pre-enrollment therapy and have a WBC < 30,000/ul at the time of enrollment must be given a 24 hour “washout” before starting immunotherapy * Note: There is no waiting period or “washout” for patients who relapse while receiving upfront therapy
6. Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >= 70 mL/min/1.73 m^2 OR a serum creatinine based on age/gender as follows (within 7 calendar days prior to enrollment): * Age: Maximum serum creatinine (mg/dL) ** 1 to < 2 years: 0.6 (male), 0.6 (female) ** 2 to < 6 years: 0.8 (male), 0.8 (female) ** 6 to < 10 years: 1 (male), 1 (female) ** 10 to < 13 years: 1.2 (male), 1.2 (female) ** 13 to < 16 years: 1.5 (male), 1.4 (female) ** >= 16 years: 1.7 (male), 1.4 (female)
7. Shortening fraction of >= 27% by echocardiogram, or ejection fraction of >= 50% by echocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or radionuclide angiogram
8. No evidence of dyspnea at rest, no exercise intolerance, and a pulse oximetry > 94% if there is clinical indication for determination
9. All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent
10. All institutional, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met

Treatment Sites in Georgia