CAR.70 and IL-15 modified cord blood NK cell therapy with TGFBR2 knockout plus chemotherapy for relapsed or refractory myeloid cancers

A Phase I/II Study of CAR.70-Engineered IL15-Transduced Cord Blood-Derived NK Cells With TGF-beta Receptor 2 (TGFBR2) Knock Out in Conjunction With Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy for the Management of Relapsed/Refractory Myeloid Malignancies

This will test a one-time infusion of genetically modified cord blood NK cells given after lymphodepleting chemotherapy to see if it helps adults with relapsed or refractory AML, MDS, or CMML.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase1; Phase2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 42 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 80 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine
• Locations: 1 site (Houston, Texas)
• Trial ID: NCT06930651 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This open-label Phase I/II program uses a dose-escalation approach (BOIN) to find a safe and recommended dose of CAR.70/IL‑15-transduced cord blood NK cells with TGFBR2 knockout, followed by expansion cohorts in two phase II arms (relapsed/refractory AML and MDS/CMML after HMA failure). Up to 12 patients will be enrolled in the phase I dose-escalation, then 20 patients in the AML arm and 10 in the MDS/CMML arm for phase II. All participants receive lymphodepleting and priming chemotherapy (dexamethasone, decitabine, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide) prior to a single infusion of the engineered NK cells, with safety, response rates, and survival outcomes followed prospectively. Secondary and exploratory endpoints include complete remission rates, MRD by flow cytometry (AML), duration of response, relapse-free and overall survival, and toxicity profiling.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–80 with relapsed or refractory AML (including treated secondary AML) or intermediate/high/very-high risk MDS/CMML after HMA failure who meet organ-function and prior-therapy requirements are the intended candidates.

Not a fit: Patients whose disease is not a myeloid malignancy, who have poor organ function, uncontrolled infection, or whose leukemia lacks relevance to the CAR target or who have not received required prior targeted therapies are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could produce deeper or longer remissions in patients whose myeloid malignancies have relapsed or failed prior therapies by recruiting engineered NK cells that persist and resist TGF-β suppression.

How similar studies have performed: Early-phase CAR‑NK and IL‑15–expressing NK cell trials have shown encouraging safety and some responses in blood cancers, but the specific use of TGFBR2 knockout in cord blood NK cells is largely novel and unproven.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis: Age 18-80 years with diagnosis of:

   1. Relapsed or refractory AML or "treated secondary AML"

      * Patients with a mutation that is targetable with an FDA-approved targeted therapy should have received at least one on these agents. . "Treated secondary AML "includes patients with prior diagnosis of a myeloid neoplasm (e.g. MDS) who received hypomethylating agents for this disease and subsequently progressed to AML. These patients must have received all of the following: a hypomethylating agent + venetoclax and intensive chemotherapy (if a suitable candidate for intensive therapy). These patients may be enrolled at the time of AML diagnosis if they have already received all of the treatments above for their antecedent myeloid neoplasm.
   2. MDS that is intermediate, high-risk or very-high risk by the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (R-IPSS)

      * Bone marrow blasts must be \>5%.
      * The disease must have either 1.) not have responded to at least 4 cycles of a hypomethylating agent or 2.) progressed or relapsed, regardless of the number of cycles received
   3. CMML-1 or CMML-2

      * Bone marrow blasts must be \>5%.
      * The disease must have either 1.) not have responded to at least 4 cycles of a hypomethylating agent or 2.) progressed or relapsed, regardless of the number of cycles received
2. CD70 expression \>10% measured by immunohistochemistry or multiparameter flow cytometry
3. Performance status \</=2 (ECOG Scale)
4. Adequate liver, cardiac, renal and pulmonary function as defined by the following criteria:

   1. Total serum bilirubin \</=2 x upper limit of normal (ULN), unless due to Gilbert's syndrome, hemolysis or the underlying leukemia approved by the PI
   2. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \</=3 x ULN, unless due to the underlying leukemia approved by the PI
   3. Serum creatinine \</=2x ULN or creatinine clearance \>/=30 mL/min
   4. Left ventricular ejection fraction \>/=40% by echocardiogram or MUGA
   5. Oxygen saturation \>/=93% on room air
5. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
6. Willingness to sign informed consent to long-term follow-up on protocol PA17-0483 to fulfill institutional responsibilities to regulatory agencies
7. Willingness to use adequate contraception prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 3 months after completion of study participation. For women of childbearing potential, adequate methods of contraception include: complete abstinence,, hormonal contraception (i.e. birth control pills, injection, implant, transdermal patch, vaginal ring), intrauterine device (IUD), tubal Ligation or hysterectomy, subject/partner post vasectomy, implantable or injectable contraceptives, and condoms plus spermicide.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active grade III-V cardiac failure as defined by the New York Heart Association Criteria
2. Active serious infection not controlled by oral or intravenous antibiotics (e.g. persistent fever or lack of improvement despite antimicrobial treatment).
3. Active central nervous system leukemia
4. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive, unless well-controlled on stable doses of anti-retroviral therapy.
5. Known hepatitis B surface antigen seropositive or known or suspected active hepatitis C infection Note: Patients who have isolated positive hepatitis B core antibody (ie, in the setting of negative hepatitis B surface antigen and negative hepatitis B surface antibody) must have an undetectable hepatitis B viral load. Patients who have positive hepatitis C antibody may be included if they have an undetectable hepatitis C viral load.
6. Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment is not anticipated to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen may be included only after discussion with the PI
7. Use of calcineurin inhibitors (e.g. tacrolimus) within the past 2 weeks
8. Treatment with any investigational antileukemic agents or chemotherapy agents in the last 7 days before lymphodepletion, unless full recovery from side effects has occurred or patient has rapidly progressive disease judged to be life-threatening by the investigator.

   i. Prior recent treatment with corticosteroids, hydroxyurea, and/or cytarabine (up to 2 g/m2 given for cytoreduction within the preceding 7 days) is permitted up until 1 day prior to lymphodepletion.

   • Patients may continue on non-investigational targeted therapies up until 3 days prior to lymphodepletion.
9. Pregnant or breastfeeding women will not be eligible

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

• The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Nicholas Short, MD — M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Study coordinator: Nicholas Short, MD

Conditions Myeloid Malignancies