Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

Studying the Effect of Levocarnitine in Protecting the Liver From Chemotherapy for Leukemia or Lymphoma

A Randomized Trial of Levocarnitine Prophylaxis to Prevent Asparaginase-Associated Hepatotoxicity in Adolescents and Young Adults Receiving Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Therapy

Studying the Effect of Levocarnitine in Protecting the Liver From Chemotherapy for Leukemia or Lymphoma (NCT05602194) is a Phase 3 interventional studying B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1, sponsored by Children's Oncology Group. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding levocarnitine to standard chemotherapy versus (vs.) standard chemotherapy alone in protecting the liver in patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Asparaginase is part of the standard of care chemotherapy for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL), and mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). However, in adolescent and young adults (AYA) ages 15-39 years, liver toxicity from asparaginase is common and often prevents delivery of planned chemotherapy, thereby potentially compromising outcomes. Some groups of people may also be at higher risk for liver damage due to the presence of fat in the liver even before starting chemotherapy. Patients who are of Japanese descent, Native Hawaiian, Hispanic or Latinx may be at greater risk for liver damage from chemotherapy for this reason. Carnitine is a naturally occurring nutrient that is part of a typical diet and is also made by the body. Carnitine is necessary for metabolism and its deficiency or absence is associated with liver and other organ damage. Levocarnitine is a drug used to provide extra carnitine. Laboratory and real-world usage of the dietary supplement levocarnitine suggests its potential to prevent or reduce liver toxicity from asparaginase. The overall goal of this study is to determine whether adding levocarnitine to standard of care chemotherapy will reduce the chance of developing severe liver damage from asparaginase chemotherapy in ALL, LL and/or MPAL patients.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

A target enrollment of 440 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - \>= 15 and \< 40 years at time of diagnosis - Newly diagnosed B-ALL, T-ALL, lymphoblastic lymphoma (LLy), or mixed-phenotype acute leukemia/lymphoma (MPAL) - Note: Philadelphia chromosome (PH)+ and PH-like acute leukemia are eligible (use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors \[TKI\] or CRLF2- targeted concomitant medication must be documented, if used) - Conjugated bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, regardless of baseline bilirubin (within 7 days prior to enrollment), and - Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) (ALT) =\< 225 U/L (=\< 5x ULN) (within 7 days prior to enrollment), and - Note: For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT (ALT) has been set to the value of 45 U/L and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (AST) to 50 U/L regardless of baseline - SGOT (AST) =\< 250 U/L (=\< 5x ULN) (within 7 days prior to enrollment) - Note: For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT (ALT) has been set to the value of 45 U/L and SGOT (AST) to 50 U/L regardless of baseline - For patients receiving ursodiol prior to enrollment, laboratory values must meet above criteria off ursodiol for 7 days - PEDIATRIC PATIENTS (AGE 15-17 years): - A 24-hour urine creatinine clearance \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 (within 7 days prior to enrollment) OR - A glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2. GFR must be performed using one of the following methods (within 7 days prior to enrollment): - Estimated GFR (eGFR) \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2. - An online calculator is available through the National Kidney Foundation at https://www.kidney.org/professionals/kdoqi/gfr\_calculatorped - Measured GFR \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 (any age). If measured GFR is used, it must be performed using direct measurement with a nuclear blood sampling method or small molecule clearance method (iothalamate or other molecule per institutional standard) ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * \>= 15 and \< 40 years at time of diagnosis * Newly diagnosed B-ALL, T-ALL, lymphoblastic lymphoma (LLy), or mixed-phenotype acute leukemia/lymphoma (MPAL) * Note: Philadelphia chromosome (PH)+ and PH-like acute leukemia are eligible (use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors \[TKI\] or CRLF2- targeted concomitant medication must be documented, if used) * Conjugated bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, regardless of baseline bilirubin (within 7 days prior to enrollment), and * Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) (ALT) =\< 225 U/L (=\< 5x ULN) (within 7 days prior to enrollment), and * Note: For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT (ALT) has been set to the value of 45 U/L and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (AST) to 50 U/L regardless of baseline * SGOT (AST) =\< 250 U/L (=\< 5x ULN) (within 7 days prior to enrollment) * Note: For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT (ALT) has been set to the value of 45 U/L and SGOT (AST) to 50 U/L regardless of baseline * For patients receiving ursodiol prior to enrollment, laboratory values must meet above criteria off ursodiol for 7 days * PEDIATRIC PATIENTS (AGE 15-17 years): * A 24-hour urine creatinine clearance \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 (within 7 days prior to enrollment) OR * A glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2. GFR must be performed using one of the following methods (within 7 days prior to enrollment): * Estimated GFR (eGFR) \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2. * An online calculator is available through the National Kidney Foundation at https://www.kidney.org/professionals/kdoqi/gfr\_calculatorped * Measured GFR \>= 30 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 (any age). If measured GFR is used, it must be performed using direct measurement with a nuclear blood sampling method or small molecule clearance method (iothalamate or other molecule per institutional standard) * ADULT PATIENTS (AGE 18 YEARS OR OLDER): Creatinine clearance \>= 30 mL/min, as estimated by the Cockcroft and Gault formula or a 24-hour urine collection (within 7 days prior to enrollment). Estimated creatinine clearance is based on actual body weight * An online calculator is available through the National Kidney Foundation at https://www.kidney.org/professionals/kdoqi/gfr\_calculatorcoc * Berlin-Frankfurt-Munich (BFM), Children's Oncology Group (COG), or C10403-based Induction regimen and must be inclusive of \>= 1 dose of pegaspargase or calaspargase pegol, and * First dose of asparaginase must be planned within the first week of induction therapy, and * Dose of pegaspargase or calaspargase pegol must be \>= 1,000 IU/ m\^2 (dose-capping permitted per primary regimen) * Note: Co-enrollment on a therapeutic consortia trial is not required * All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent * All institutional, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met Exclusion Criteria: * Down syndrome * Known inherited or autoimmune liver disease impacting conjugated bilirubin (e.g., Alagille syndrome, primary sclerosing cholangitis, other) * Known biopsy (or imaging) proven severe liver fibrosis (Batts-Ludwig \>= stage 3) * Unable to tolerate oral formulation of study drug at enrollment * Patients who received chemotherapy or treatment for a prior malignancy are not eligible * The following are permitted: steroid prophase, hydroxyurea, or other cytoreduction prior to initiation of Induction chemotherapy (must be documented) and chemotherapy for current diagnosis (i.e. initiation of Induction therapy within enrollment window). Chemotherapy prior to enrollment for treatment of a non-malignancy (e.g., steroid or methotrexate for autoimmune disease) is also permitted and must be documented * Female patients who are pregnant since fetal toxicities and teratogenic effects in humans are unknown for study drug. A pregnancy test is required for female patients of childbearing potential * Lactating females who plan to breastfeed their infants * Sexually active patients of reproductive potential who have not agreed to use an effective contraceptive method for the duration of their study participation

Treatments Being Tested

PROCEDURE

Biospecimen Collection

Undergo blood sample collection

DRUG

Calaspargase Pegol

Given standard of care calaspargase pegol

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Levocarnitine

Given PO or IV

DRUG

Pegaspargase

Given standard of care pegaspargase

OTHER

Quality-of-Life Assessment

Ancillary studies

Locations (20)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Children's Hospital of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Kingman Regional Medical Center
Kingman, Arizona, United States
Phoenix Childrens Hospital
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Banner University Medical Center - Tucson
Tucson, Arizona, United States
Arkansas Children's Hospital
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Kaiser Permanente-Anaheim
Anaheim, California, United States
PCR Oncology
Arroyo Grande, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente-Bellflower
Bellflower, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center
Downey, California, United States
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Duarte, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente-Fontana
Fontana, California, United States
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda, California, United States
Miller Children's and Women's Hospital Long Beach
Long Beach, California, United States
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Valley Children's Hospital
Madera, California, United States
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
Oakland, California, United States
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, United States
Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto
Palo Alto, California, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05602194), the sponsor (Children's Oncology Group), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05602194 clinical trial studying?

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding levocarnitine to standard chemotherapy versus (vs.) standard chemotherapy alone in protecting the liver in patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Asparaginase is part of the standard of care chemotherapy for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL), and mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). However, in adolescent and young adults (AYA) ages 15-39 years, liver toxicity from asparaginase is common and often prevents delivery of planned chemotherapy, thereby potentially compromising outcomes. Some groups of p… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05602194?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05602194?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05602194. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05602194. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.