CART123 combined with ruxolitinib for treating relapsed or refractory AML

Phase I Trial of CART123 Cells Given in Combination With Ruxolitinib in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

This study is testing if a new treatment combining CART123 cells with ruxolitinib can help people with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia feel better.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: prednisone, ruxolitinib, chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• Trial ID: NCT06768476 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase I open-label study evaluates the safety, feasibility, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of CART123 cells administered alongside ruxolitinib in patients suffering from relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Participants will receive a single infusion of CART123 cells after undergoing ruxolitinib treatment and lymphodepletion. The ruxolitinib dosing will commence six days prior to the CART123 infusion and continue for up to 14 days post-infusion.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older with active acute myeloid leukemia who have not responded to standard treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with AML that can be treated effectively with existing therapies may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new treatment option for patients with limited or no available therapies for relapsed or refractory AML.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies involving CAR T-cell therapies have shown promising results in other hematological malignancies.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* 1. Signed informed consent form 2. Male or female age ≥ 18 years. 3. Patients with active acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with no available curative treatment options using currently available therapies. This is specifically defined as one of the following:

  1. AML that has not achieved a complete remission or morphologic leukemia free state by ELN 2022 criteria57 after at least 2 cycles of induction (includes partial remission or refractory/primary refractory disease), OR:
  2. AML relapsed following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (including MDS evolved to AML post-allogeneic stem cell transplant).

  i. Note: Morphologic relapse is not required; Patient may have persistent/recurrent disease-associated molecular, phenotypic or cytogenetic abnormalities (i.e., MRD) at any time after allogeneic HCT to qualify. Mutations involving DNMT3A, ASXL1 or TET2 should not count as molecular MRD+ disease unless accompanied by other, more specific disease-related molecular or cytogenetic abnormalities.

  4. Patients with relapsed disease after prior allogeneic SCT must be at least 3 months from transplantation (where receipt of the stem cell product is defined as day 0) and must not require systemic immunosuppression (for prevention or treatment of GVHD).

  5. Patients must have a suitable stem cell donor identified with projected ability to proceed to transplant within 6-8 weeks of CART123 infusion if clinically indicated. Donor may be matched or mismatched and must be found to be suitable according to the institution's standard criteria.

  6. Adequate organ function defined as:
  1. Estimated creatinine clearance \> 35mL/min using the CKD-EPI equation for Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR); Patients must not be on dialysis
  2. ALT/AST ≤ 5x upper limit of normal range
  3. Direct bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dl, unless the subject has Gilbert's syndrome (≤3.0 mg/dl)
  4. Must have a minimum level of pulmonary reserve defined as ≤ Grade 1 dyspnea and pulse oxygen \> 92% on room air
  5. Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40% confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography or MUGA scan.

     7. ECOG Performance Status 0-2.

     Exclusion Criteria:
* 1. Patients with the JAK2 V617F mutation by PCR or next generation sequencing. 2. Patients with signs or symptoms indicative of active CNS involvement. A CNS evaluation should be performed as clinically appropriate to rule out CNS involvement.

  3. Patients with relapsed AML with t(15:17). 4. Active hepatitis B, active hepatitis C, or other active, uncontrolled infection.

  5. Active acute or chronic GVHD requiring systemic therapy. 6. Class III/IV cardiovascular disability according to the New York Heart Association Classification.

  7. Clinically apparent arrhythmia or arrhythmias that are not stable on medical management within two weeks of physician-investigator confirmation of eligibility.

  8. Dependence on systemic steroids or immunosuppressant medications. For additional details regarding use of steroid and immunosuppressant medications.

  9. Planned use of fluconazole within the anticipated study treatment window. For additional details on concomitant medication restrictions.

  10. Receipt of prior CART123 therapy. 11. Pregnant or nursing (lactating) patients. Participants of reproductive potential must agree to use acceptable birth control methods.

  12. Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppressive treatment equivalent to ≥ 10mg of prednisone. Patients with autoimmune neurologic diseases (such as MS) will be excluded.

  13. History of allergy or hypersensitivity to study product excipients (human serum albumin, DMSO, and Dextran 40).

Where this trial is running

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Saar Gill, MD, PhD — University of Pennsylvania
• Study coordinator: Abramson Cancer Center Clinical Trials Service

Conditions Relapsed AML; Refractory AML; CART; refractory; relapsed; acute; myeloid; leukemia