1. Cyclophosphamide vs Mycophenylate mofetil for lupus nephritis
The curse of living in interesting times?
Mary Anne Dooley
March, 2009

2. Cytotoxic Therapy Prolongs Renal Survival

3. The “NIH Protocol” Improved RENAL not overall survival
All classes of renal histology included
100% Caucasian
Long duration (11 months) of nephritis prior to entry
Excluded patients with renal insufficiency
Quarterly cyclophosphamide therapy employed
Comorbidities over time not reported

4. Racial Disparity: Renal Survival for Class IV Lupus Nephritis Treated with IV CTX
% Probability of renal survival
p=0.007
Years from renal biopsy
M Dooley et al, Kidney Int 1997; 51:

5. Renal Survival by Race at UNC
Independent of the following factors:
Age
Duration of SLE
History of hypertension
Hypertension control during therapy
Activity or chronicity indices on renal biopsy
Pattern of corticosteroid therapy

6. Diffuse GN (WHO IV) Austin, Sem Nephrol 19:2, 1999
Majority African American cohorts
Majority caucasian cohorts
Austin, Sem Nephrol 19:2, 1999

7. Racial Disparity in response to cyclophosphamide
Boumpas, Lancet 340:741, 1992

8. Proportion without relapse Time (mo from starting IV CYC)
Remission, relapse, and re-remission of proliferative lupus nephritis treated with cyclophosphamide
Remission
Proportion without relapse
Median time 79 mo
20% relapse after 18 mo
Time (mo from starting IV CYC)
Relapse
Median time 10 mo
22% failed to remit after 2 yr
Proportion without remission
Time (mo from starting IV CYC)
Time (mo from starting IV CYC)
Median time 32 mo
Re-remission
Proportion without re-remission
Ioannidis JA et al. Kidney Int 2000; 57:

9. Remission rates: MMF vs IVC
Intent-to-Treat analysis
p = 0.009
37/71
p = NS
Responding (%)
p = 0.005
21/71
21/69
17/69
16/71
4/69

10. Study endpoints MMF IVC Number randomized 71 69 Complete remission 164
Partial remission 21 17
No remission at 24 weeks on initial regimen 19
Crossover to alternate regimen 6 12
Withdrawal from study 9 15

11. Study withdrawals MMF IVC 6 early 13 early 3 late No deaths 2 late
5 severe disease
1 non-compliance
3 late
2 crossover refusals
1 toxicity (rash)
No deaths
IVC
13 early
3 treatment refusals (1 death)
3 severe disease (2 deaths)
6 non-compliance (2 with GI toxicity)
1 lymphopenia
2 late
2 lost to follow-up

12. University of Miami Study Methods: Study design & patient population
Open label, randomized clinical trial
Inclusion criteria
Adults > 18 years of age, World Health Organization (WHO) classes III, IV, V with proliferation
Exclusion criteria
Have received IVCY > 7 doses or AZA > 8 weeks
Creatinine clearance < 20 mL/min
Pregnancy
Any clinically significant infection within 2 weeks of enrollment

13. Cumulative probability
Patient survival
1.00
0.75
Cumulative probability
0.50
p = 0.11, MMF vs IVCY
p = 0.02, AZA vs IVCY
p = 0.33, MMF vs AZA
0.25
AZA
IVCY
MMF
0.00 12 24 36 48 60 72
Time (months)

14. Cumulative probability
Free of relapse
1.00
p = 0.021, MMF vs IVCY
p = 0.124, AZA vs IVCY
p = 0.222, MMF vs AZA
0.75
Cumulative probability
0.50
0.25
AZA
IVCY
MMF
0.00 12 24 36 48 60 72
Time (months)

15. MMF vs. CTX for Lupus Nephritis
350 Patient Two-Phase study with a
6 month induction followed by up to
3 year maintenance

16. Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial
Renal function
All patients (n = 85)
High-dose IV CYC
(n = 44)
Low-dose
IV CYC
(n = 41)
Normal 67 34 33
Permanently impaired 18 10 8
End-stage renal disease 4 3 1
Doubling of serum creatinine 7
Impaired renal function 6
Permanently impaired renal function was defined as a serum creatinine value that was repeatedly 1.4 mg/dl.
Houssiau FA. Arthritis Rheum 50:

17. No difference in LD vs HD CTX

18. Rapid response predicts better long-term outcome

19. Dutch Study: WHO class switches CTX vs. AZA

20. Increased chronicity in patients given AZA

22. Primary endpoint: responders in randomized population (n = 370)
Assessed (n = 460)
Excluded (n = 90)
Randomized (n = 370)
Open-label treatment
MMF
IVC
Allocated to MMF (n = 185)
Received MMF (n = 184)
Withdrawals (n = 35)
Due to adverse event (n = 24)
Consent withdrawn (n = 6)
Other reason (n = 5)
Allocated to IVC (n = 185)
Received IVC (n = 180)
Withdrawals (n = 29)
Due to adverse event (n = 13)
Consent withdrawn (n = 5)
Other reason (n = 11)
370 patients were randomized into the induction phase.
83% completed the full 24 weeks, with most of the withdrawals being due to adverse events.
Responders are eligible for re-randomization into the ongoing maintenance phase.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Inclusion criteria
Age 12–75 years
Diagnosis of SLE per American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1997 criteria
Kidney biopsy within the 6 months prior to first randomization
Lupus nephritis (International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society [ISN/RPS] 2003 classification) class III, IV-S, or IV-G, (A) or (A/C), or V, alone or in combination with class III or IV
Exclusion criteria
Continuous dialysis for more than 2 weeks before randomization and/or expected 8 weeks
Pancreatitis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage within 6 months, active peptic ulcer within 3 months
Severe viral infection
Severe cardiovascular disease
Bone marrow insufficiency, with cytopenias not attributable to SLE
Current infection requiring intravenous antibiotics
Maintenance phase:
Double-blind, double-dummy, randomized (re-randomized), MMF orally 2 g/day or oral azathioprine 2 mg/kg/day with corticosteroids to a maximum of 10 mg/day, to treatment failure (or up to 3 years for last patient)
Primary endpoint: responders in randomized population (n = 370)
Responders
Maintenance phase
Double-blind re-randomization to corticosteroids plus MMF or azathioprine for up to 3 years

23. Demographic Characteristics: Intent-To-Treat Population
MMF
(n = 185)
IVC
Total
(n = 370)
Male
28 (15.1)
29 (15.7)
57 (15.4)
Female
157 (84.9)
156 (84.3)
313 (84.6)
Ethnicity
Hispanic
64 (34.6)
67 (36.2)
131 (35.4)
Non-Hispanic
121 (65.4)
118 (63.8)
239 (64.6)
Race
White
75 (40.5)
72 (38.9)
147 (39.7)
Asian
62 (33.5)
61 (33.0)
123 (33.2)
Other
48 (25.9)
52 (28.1)
100 (27.0)
Black
26 (14.1)
20 (10.8)
46 (12.4)
Non-black other
22 (11.9)
32 (17.3)
54 (14.6)
The groups were well balanced with regard to sex, ethnicity and race.
The racial/ethnic breakdown reflects where the study was performed.
All patients were reported as either Hispanic or non-Hispanic.
The majority of Hispanic patients were mixed-race, but some were black or Caucasian
FURTHER INFORMATION
The groups were generally balanced. Consistent with the demographic profile of patients with LN, the race/ethnicity breakdown simply reflects where the study was performed.
Race/ethnicity were self-reported. ‘Other’ comprises predominantly mixed race from Latin America, known locally as mestizo. Note that in the efficacy analysis, ‘Other’ also includes Black patients.

24. Baseline Disease Characteristics by Race (ITT Population)
Caucasian
Black
Asian
Other
MMF
IVC
(n=75)
(n=72)
(n=26)
(n=20)
(n=62)
(n=61)
(n=22)
(n=32)
Duration
SLE
6.3
(5.9)
7.2
(6.9)
5.7
(8.2)
5.0
(4.1)
3.6
(4.2)
2.3
(2.5)
8.5
(7.2)
5.9
(6.8)
Duration LN
3.0
(3.9)
4.3
(6.0)
1.8
(2.1)
2.8
(3.3)
(3.6)
1.9 (2.2)
3.5
(4.7)
(4.4)
Urine Protein: Cr ratio
3.7
(3.2)
3.8
(2.9)
4.7
(5.6)
4.1
(2.8)
(3.8)
Estimated GFR
83.1 (44.8)
81.7 (38.1)
103.8 (44.5)
97.1 (56.0)
86.4 (42.6)
103.4 (47.7)
66.0 (34.9)
91.9 (43.1)
When looked at by race, it is most notable that patients assigned to MMF in the Asian and Other racial groups appear to have worse renal function both with respect to the mean/median GFR than those in the IVC group.
Also of importance (but not on this slide) is that there were more patients with very low GFR (<30) assigned to MMF than IVC. This is important when we see look at the safety data.

25. Drug Exposure by Race Caucasian (n = 72) Black (n = 20) Asian (n = 61)
Other
(n = 32)
MMF mean daily dose 71 26 61 21
Mean (SD)
2.45 (0.46)
2.49 (0.45)
2.40 (0.77)
2.74 (0.45)
Min, Max
1.0, 3.3
1.5, 3.2
0.3, 6.8
1.8, 3.6
Number of IVC infusions 18 60 31
5.8 (0.8)
4.8 (1.6)
5.6 (1.2)
5.7 (1.1)
1.0, 6.0
2.0, 7.0
Around 70% patients finished the study on 2.5–3.0g MMF, indicating the drug was well tolerated in this population.
The Asian patients appeared to tolerate the same mean daily dose MMF as the other groups.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Target dose was achieved for the majority of patients in both groups
The majority of patients in both groups complied with the corticosteroid taper – therefore not a confounding factor
The duration and mean number of infusions were less in black patients than in the other groups, possibly due to tolerability issues.

26. Treatment Compliance Oral MMF twice daily Mean (SD):
2.5 (0.58) (g/day)
Oral corticosteroids twice daily
IVC in monthly pulses
Mean dose per infusion:
0.78 g/m2
Mean (SD) doses per month: 5.6 (1.1)
Target dose was achieved for the majority of patients in both groups.
The majority of patients in both groups complied with the corticosteroid taper.

27. Primary Endpoint: Responders at Month 6
Response was judged by a blinded Clinical Endpoint Committee, by the criteria:
Decrease in urine protein/creatinine ratio (P/CR)
– to <3 in patients nephrotic at baseline (P/CR ≥3),
– or by ≥50% in patients subnephrotic at baseline (P/CR <3)
and
Stabilization of serum creatinine level (24-week level ±25% of baseline), or improvement
Response comprised of a hard, reproducible laboratory endpoint, measured at a central laboratory from 24-hour urine collections.
In addition, a blinded committee adjudicated the response.
NB: nephrotic patients had to become sub-nephrotic and sub-nephrotic patients had to reduce their P/CR by at least 50%.
Proteinuria is defined as the ratio of urine protein to creatinine.
The Clinical Endpoint Committee reviewed every case.
MMF
IVC
MMF was not superior to IVC (p = 0.575)

28. Primary Endpoint by Race
‘Other’ mostly comprises 46 black patients and 36 ‘mestizo’ (Latin American mixed race) patients.
There was a consistent response to MMF across racial groups. There was more variability in response to IVC.
These results are likely to be confounded by the effects of region. Most patients in the ‘Other’ group were from Latin America. 28

29. Primary Endpoint by Ethnicity
There was similar response to MMF in Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients.
There was a big difference in response rates in patients receiving IVC.
Most Hispanics were from Latin America.

30. Response by Region

31. Key Renal Secondary Endpoints
Complete remission as defined by:
return to normal serum creatinine level
proteinuria ≤500 mg/24 hr
inactive urinary sediment
Remission in each one of these individual parameters
Anti-dsDNA, C3, C4 and serum albumin

32. Remission Rates by Renal Criteria
No significant differences between groups in complete remission or by individual criteria

33. Patients who experienced AE ≥10% MMF IVC
Nausea
27 (14.7)
82 (45.6)
Vomiting
25 (13.6)
68 (37.8)
Headache
38 (20.7)
47 (26.1)
Alopecia
20 (10.9)
64 (35.6)
Diarrhea
52 (28.3)
23 (12.8)
Arthralgia
29 (15.8)
43 (23.9)
Peripheral edema
35 (19.0)
30 (16.7)
Nasopharyngitis
29 (16.1)
Hypertension
26 (14.1)
25 (13.9)
Leukopenia
11 (6.0)
38 (21.1)
Upper respiratory tract infection
17 (9.2)
28 (15.6)
Fever
12 (6.5)
Cough
24 (13.0)
16 (8.9)
Rash
19 (10.3)
21 (11.7)
AEs are > or = to 10%
Overall, the adverse events reported were consistent with the known safety profile of both drugs.
The incidence of diarrhea in the MMF group was much lower than that described in the transplant population, and only rarely led to dose reduction or withdrawal.
A large number of patients in the IVC group suffered nausea and vomiting, despite the widespread use of prophylactic antiemetics.
Clinically significant leukopenia is still a problem in patients treated with IVC.
FURTHER INFORMATION
More patients experienced nausea and vomiting with IVC than with MMF.
More patients experienced diarrhea with MMF than with IVC.
The diarrhea associated with MMF use was consistent with the known drug safety profile, as was the incidence of anemia for IVC.
Leukopenia is an expected adverse event with both drugs.
AEs accounted for 24 withdrawals in the MMF group (12 due to infections) compared with 13 in the IVC group (4 due to infections).
‘Abdominal pain’ and ‘abdominal pain upper’ are separate preferred terms in the adverse events listings. 33

34. Summary of Deaths
MMF group: 2 deaths in Argentina, 6 in China, and 1 in Malaysia
IVC group: 2 deaths in the USA, 2 in China, and 1 in the UK
MMF group: 7 deaths were due to infections and none due to SLE
IVC group: 2 deaths due to infections, 2 due to SLE
These were the primary causes of deaths given by the investigators; however, analysis of the cases suggested that there were complex interactions of complications of immunosuppression and disease at play.
Just over half of all the deaths were in Asia, and two of the deaths from sepsis occurred a day after the initiation of therapy, suggesting severe underlying disease
A post-hoc analysis of possible contributory factors to the deaths and adverse events concluded that there were no associations of
race/ethnicity
region
body surface area, or weight
with the adverse outcomes for MMF.
However baseline renal dysfunction was predictive of death, independently of treatment.
FURTHER INFORMATION
In the MMF group, 7 deaths were related to study drug and 3 were related to lupus, compared with 2 related to study drug and 3 related to lupus in the IVC group.
No associations of race/ethnicity, region, body surface area, or weight with the adverse outcomes for MMF.
Overall, patients from Asia suffered the fewest infections in both groups, but those infections more likely to result in hospitalization or death.
Baseline renal dysfunction was predictive of death, independently of treatment.

35. Summary
Study did not meet its primary objective of showing that MMF was superior to IVC
Response rates with MMF were consistent across racial, ethnic, and regional groups
Response rates lower with IVC compared with MMF in non-Caucasian, non-Asian patients, ethnically Hispanic patients, and patients in Latin America
AE profiles for MMF and IVC were broadly similar over 24 weeks, and consistent with previous reports
Overall incidence of adverse events and infections similar between racial groups
Ongoing maintenance phase compares MMF with azathioprine for up to 3 years
As response to both treatments was comparable, the study endpoint was not met.
However, MMF appeared more consistently effective across racial/ethnic and geographical groups than IVC. 35

36. Degree and durability of remission not optimal for many patients
Many patients fail to achieve complete remission
Less than 50% survival without end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at 10 years in absence of complete remission.
Significant rates of renal flare despite maintenance therapy
Adverse events can limit effective dosing of common maintenance therapies for lupus nephritis
High cost burden associated with lupus nephritis
Costs escalate with degree of renal damage

37. Many Patients Do Not Achieve Complete Remission Following Induction
Prevalence of Complete Remission in Lupus Nephritis Following Induction Therapy (24 weeks)
Percentage of Patients
N = 140
(Intent-to-treat analysis)
Mycophenolate Mofetil or Intravenous Cyclophosphamide for Lupus Nephritis
Ellen M. Ginzler, M.D., M.P.H., Mary Anne Dooley, M.D., M.P.H., Cynthia Aranow, M.D., Mimi Y. Kim, Sc.D.,
Jill Buyon, M.D., Joan T. Merrill, M.D., Michelle Petri, M.D., M.P.H., Gary S. Gilkeson, M.D.,
Daniel J. Wallace, M.D., Michael H. Weisman, M.D., and Gerald B. Appel, M.D.
background
Since anecdotal series and small, prospective, controlled trials suggest that mycophenolate mofetil may be effective for treating lupus nephritis, larger trials are desirable.
methods
We conducted a 24-week randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial comparing oral mycophenolate mofetil (initial dose, 1000 mg per day, increased to 3000 mg per day) with monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide (0.5 g per square meter of body-surface area, increased to 1.0 g per square meter) as induction therapy for active lupus nephritis. A change to the alternative regimen was allowed at 12 weeks in patients who did not have an early response. The study protocol specified adjunctive care and the use and tapering of corticosteroids. The primary end point was complete remission at 24 weeks (normalization of abnormal renal measurements and maintenance of baseline normal measurements). A secondary end point was partial remission at 24 weeks.
Results
Of 140 patients recruited, 71 were randomly assigned to receive mycophenolate mofetil and 69 were randomly assigned to receive cyclophosphamide. At 12 weeks, 56 patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil and 42 receiving cyclophosphamide had satisfactory early responses. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 16 of the 71 patients (22.5 percent) receiving mycophenolate mofetil and 4 of the 69 patients receiving cyclophosphamide (5.8 percent) had complete remission, for an absolute difference of 16.7 percentage points (95 percent confidence interval, 5.6 to 27.9 percentage points; P=0.005), meeting the prespecified criteria for noninferiority and demonstrating the superiority of mycophenolate mofetil to cyclophosphamide. Partial remission occurred in 21 of the 71 patients (29.6 percent) and 17 of the 69 patients (24.6 percent), respectively (P=0.51). Three patients assigned to cyclophosphamide died, two during protocol therapy. Fewer severe infections and hospitalizations but more diarrhea occurred among those receiving mycophenolate.
Conclusions
In this 24-week trial, mycophenolate mofetil was more effective than intravenous cyclophosphamide in inducing remission of lupus nephritis and had a more favorable safety profile.
Source: Ginzler et al. NEJM. 2005; 353(21)
Complete remission defined as return to within 10% of normal values of serum creatinine, proteinuria, and urine sediment. Source: Ginzler et al. NEJM. 2005; 353(21)

38. Importance of Maintaining Complete Remission in Lupus Nephritis
Results of a long-term prospective study in patients with diffuse lupus nephritis
Patient Survival Without ESRD at 10 Years
Patient survival without ESRD less than 50% at 10 years with partial remission
Percentage of Patients Surviving Without ESRD
P< (CR vs PR)
Value of a Complete or Partial Remission in Severe Lupus Nephritis
Yiann E. Chen,* Stephen M. Korbet,* Robert S. Katz,* Melvin M. Schwartz,† and
Edmund J. Lewis* for the Collaborative Study Group
Departments of *Medicine and †Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Background and objectives: The value of a complete remission in severe lupus nephritis is well known but little is known about the impact of a partial remission in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of achieving a complete or partial remission in a well-defined group of patients with severe lupus nephritis.
Design, setting, participants, & measurements: In this study, 86 patients with diffuse lupus glomerulonephritis were reviewed for assessment of the value of a partial remission (50% reduction in baseline proteinuria to <1.5 g/d and <25% increase in baseline creatinine) and complete remission (proteinuria <0.33 g/d and serum creatinine <1.4 mg/dl) on outcomes compared with patients who did not attain a remission. These well-characterized patients were entered into a prospective therapeutic trial conducted by the Collaborative Study Group and were followed for more than 10 yr.
Results: All biopsies showed diffuse lupus nephritis. A complete remission was attained in 37 (43%) patients, a partial remission in 21 (24%) patients, and no remission in 28 (32%) patients. Baseline clinical and serologic features were similar among the groups, but patients with a complete remission had a lower serum creatinine and chronicity index compared with patients with partial or no remission. The patient survival at 10 yr was 95% for complete remission, 76% for partial remission, and 46% for no remission. The renal survival at 10 yr was 94% for complete remission, 45% for partial remission, and 19% for no remission, and the patient survival without end-stage renal disease at 10 yr was 92% for complete remission, 43% for partial remission, and 13% for no remission.
Conclusion: Even a partial remission in lupus nephritis is associated with a significantly better patient and renal survival compared with no remission.
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 3: 46–53, doi: /CJN
N = 86
Partial Remission: 50% reduction in baseline proteinuria to < 1.5 g/d with not more than 25% increase in baseline sCr. Complete Remission: Proteinuria < 0.33 g/d and serum creatinine < 1.4 mg/dl
Source: Chen et al. Clin J Am Soc Neph. 2008; 3(1)

39. Common Maintenance Therapies for Lupus Nephritis Often Do Not Prevent Renal Flare
Study
Contreras et al.
NEJM. 2004; 350(10)
Houssiau et al.
A&R. 2004; 50(12)
Mok et al.
A&R. 2004;50(8)
Patient Type
Primarily Black and Hispanic with diffuse proliferative nephritis (n=59)
Primarily Caucasian with diffuse proliferative nephritis (n=89)
Chinese patients with diffuse proliferative nephritis (n=189)
Therapy
IV CYC induction followed by maintenance with AZA, CYC, or MMF with corticosteroids
High or low dose IV CYC following by maintenance AZA with corticosteroids
CYC followed by maintenance AZA with corticosteroids*
Definition of Renal Flare
Doubling of urine protein / Cr ratio or sCr increase of 50%
Severe renal flare not responding to increase in glucocorticoid dose
Urine protein (P) > 2 g/d after complete response OR doubling of P after partial response
OR recurrent active sediment regardless of P
Duration of Follow-up (Median)
25 – 30 months **
41 months
36 months
Renal Flare
(% patients)
29%
28%
See appendix for copies of the abstracts
* Maintenance therapy given at physician discretion; 75% of patients received AZA maintenance therapy.