Anbalcabtagene autoleucel for relapsed or refractory CNS B‑cell lymphoma

A Pilot Study of Anbalcabtagene Autoleucel in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Primary or Secondary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

This trial will test whether Anbal‑cel, an anti‑CD19 CAR‑T therapy, is safe and helps adults with relapsed or refractory primary or secondary CNS diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Ages: 19 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Asan Medical Center (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: methotrexate, CAR-T, Chimeric antigen receptor, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine
• Locations: 1 site (Seoul)
• Trial ID: NCT07062627 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single‑arm Phase 2 trial enrolls adults with relapsed or refractory primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) or secondary CNS involvement of DLBCL to receive the autologous anti‑CD19 CAR‑T product Anbal‑cel. Participants undergo leukapheresis for cell manufacturing, receive lymphodepletion at least two days before infusion, and are hospitalized for a minimum of seven days after Anbal‑cel administration with scheduled follow‑up visits for 12 months. Anbal‑cel incorporates a 4‑1BB co‑stimulatory domain and is engineered to reduce PD‑1 and TIGIT expression to limit T‑cell exhaustion and potentially improve antitumor activity in the CNS. The trial focuses primarily on tolerability and safety and will capture efficacy signals in this high‑risk population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 19 or older with histologically confirmed relapsed or refractory DLBCL limited to the CNS (primary or secondary) who previously received or were intolerant to high‑dose methotrexate and can undergo leukapheresis and lymphodepletion are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with non‑CD19 tumors, uncontrolled systemic disease, significant comorbidities, or who cannot tolerate lymphodepletion or prolonged hospitalization are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, Anbal‑cel could offer a durable remission option for patients with relapsed or refractory CNS B‑cell lymphoma who have few effective therapies.

How similar studies have performed: Anti‑CD19 CAR‑T therapies have produced meaningful responses in systemic DLBCL and limited case series report activity in CNS lymphoma, but the specific anti‑exhaustion engineering in Anbal‑cel is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals aged 19 years or older who voluntarily agree to participate in this clinical study and provide written consent.
2. Patients with recurrent/refractory B-cell lymphoma confirmed histologically according to the 2017 WHO classification, and who meet one of the following conditions:

   Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) of the DLBCL subtype Secondary central nervous system involvement of DLBCL with no involvement outside the central nervous system
3. Patients who failed treatment with a previous regimen that included high-dose methotrexate or patients intolerant to high-dose methotrexate.
4. Patients who agree to provide tumor tissue. If a stored tumor tissue sample is available, it can be submitted only if it was collected within 6 months prior to participation in the clinical study and if no systemic anticancer treatment was administered after collection. If the stored tissue sample does not meet these conditions, tumor tissue must be obtained through a core needle biopsy or excisional biopsy during the screening period. If the investigator deems the biopsy to be medically unsafe for the patient, the decision on whether to enroll the patient in the clinical study can be made in consultation with the patient's clinical physician.
5. Individuals with an ECOG performance status score of 2 or lower at the time of screening.
6. Individuals with appropriate renal and liver function confirmed by laboratory test results:

   Total Bilirubin ≤2.0 mg/dL (for individuals with Gilbert-Meulengracht syndrome: total bilirubin ≤3.0 × upper limit of normal (ULN), direct bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN) Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤3 × ULN (if liver metastasis is confirmed: AST, ALT ≤5 × ULN) Serum creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)\* ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m²

   \*MDRD-GFR (mL/min/1.73 m²) = 186 × (serum creatinine)-1.154 × (age)-0.203 (× 0.742 for females)
7. Individuals with appropriate hematologic function confirmed within 2 weeks prior to screening without transfusion, based on the following criteria:

   Hemoglobin \>8.0 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>1,000/μL Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥300/μL Platelets ≥50,000/μL
8. Individuals who are hemodynamically stable at the time of screening, have no signs of pericardial effusion, and have a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or higher based on an echocardiogram (ECHO) or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan.
9. Individuals from whom adequate non-mobilized cells for Anbal-cel manufacturing can be collected through leukapheresis.
10. Individuals with an expected survival of 12 weeks or longer.
11. Individuals who agree to comply with the scheduled site visits, examination schedules, and assessments as per the protocol during the course of the clinical study, including primary and secondary follow-up visits.
12. Women of childbearing potential and men who agree to use appropriate contraception\* for at least 12 months after Anbal-cel administration until Anbal-cel is no longer detected in PCR tests. \*Hormonal contraception, intrauterine system implants, dual barrier methods (simultaneous use of a diaphragm or cervical cap with a condom and spermicide), sterilization procedures (e.g., vasectomy, bilateral tubal ligation), etc.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals with a history of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
2. Individuals with the following medical history:

   * History of other malignancies, except B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, within 3 years prior to screening (however, individuals with a history of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, localized prostate cancer, papillary thyroid cancer, cervical carcinoma in situ, or early-stage gastric cancer may participate if the investigator considers them to be fully cured after successful treatment, even if 3 years have not passed).
   * History of unstable angina and/or myocardial infarction within 12 months prior to screening.
   * History of thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, or bleeding diatheses within 6 months prior to screening.
   * History of hypoxia, clinically significant pleural effusion, or abnormal electrocardiogram findings within 6 months prior to screening.
3. Individuals with the following conditions at the time of screening:

   * Known positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
   * Active neurological autoimmune or inflammatory diseases (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
   * Recurrent or symptomatic ventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response despite treatment in the 3 months prior to screening.
4. Individuals whose disease is rapidly progressing, as determined by the investigator.
5. Individuals who have undergone major surgery requiring general anesthesia or respiratory support within 4 weeks prior to screening (however, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or open-and-closed (ONC) surgery is permissible if conducted within 2 weeks).
6. Individuals with severe infections requiring the administration of antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals at the time of screening or with uncontrolled active infections.
7. Individuals who have received or been exposed to other investigational drugs or devices within 4 weeks prior to screening.
8. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
9. Individuals with a hypersensitivity to the ingredients of the investigational drug.

Where this trial is running

Seoul

• Asan Medical Center — Seoul, South Korea (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Hyungwoo Cho, Ph.D — Asan Medical Center
• Study coordinator: Hyungwoo Cho, Ph.D

Conditions Primary CNS Lymphoma; Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma; lymphoma; CAR-T; Anbalcabtagene autoleucel