CIML NK cell infusion for relapsed myeloid disease after stem cell transplant

A Phase 1 Trial of CIML NK Cell Infusion for Myeloid Disease Relapse After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

This trial tests whether giving cytokine‑induced memory‑like (CIML) natural killer cells together with low‑dose IL‑2 can help adults (≥18) and teens (≥12) whose AML, MDS, MPN, or JMML has returned after a stem cell transplant.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Ages: 12 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine, prednisone
• Locations: 2 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04024761 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 1 trial gives patients preparative chemotherapy (fludarabine and cyclophosphamide) followed by an infusion of cytokine‑induced memory‑like (CIML) NK cells and supportive low‑dose IL‑2. The primary aim is to test safety and define the appropriate cell dose, with monitoring for side effects, dose‑limiting toxicities, and early signs of anti‑leukemia activity. Eligible adults (≥18) and pediatric patients (≥12 for certain diagnoses) who relapse after haploidentical or HLA‑matched donor stem cell transplants will be enrolled. The trial is conducted at Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital with scheduled follow‑up visits to measure disease response and complications.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients age 18 or older (and teens 12–17 for certain diagnoses) with measurable relapse or persistent AML, MDS, MPN, or JMML after haploidentical or HLA‑matched stem cell transplantation who meet transplant‑timing and organ‑function criteria.

Not a fit: Patients who are under 12, have uncontrolled organ dysfunction, active severe graft‑versus‑host disease, relapse within two months of transplant, or who cannot travel to the study sites are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the infusion could reduce relapse and produce remission by boosting the patient’s natural killer cell activity, offering a new treatment option for post‑transplant relapse.

How similar studies have performed: Early clinical work with CIML NK cells and other NK‑based therapies has shown promising responses in some patients with AML, but the approach remains experimental and not yet widely validated.

Eligibility criteria

1. Inclusion Criteria:

   1.1 Relapse or post-transplant persistence of AML, MDS (including JMML) or MPN (CMML, myelofibrosis or MDS/MPN). Disease relapse or persistence will be defined as any measurable disease by morphology, flow-cytometry, validated tests for minimal residual disease or disease-defining mutations in the bone marrow, or non-immune privileged extramedullary sites.

   1.2 Persistence of disease within 4 weeks before planned NK cell infusion and at least 2 weeks after completion of immune suppression taper as long as it is \> 2 months after stem cell transplantation for both adult and pediatric patients. If 2 weeks after completion of the immune suppression taper is still within 2 months of the most recent stem cell transplant, then chemotherapy with Fludarabine/Cyclophosphamide would need to start no earlier than at least 2 months after the transplant. For adults, disease persistence after a second transplant is allowed as long as the most recent transplant was a haploidentical or HLA matched stem cell transplant. In the pediatric cohort, disease persistence or recurrence after a second transplant is allowed as long as the most recent transplant was a haploidentical or matched related donor SCT.

   1.3 Available original donor (same donor as used for the most recent haploidentical or HLA matched stem cell transplant for adults, or for the most recent matched related donor or related haploidentical donor for pediatrics) that is willing and eligible for non-mobilized collection.

   1.4 Age ≥12 years.

   1.5 ECOG performance status ≤2. For For patients in the pediatric cohort, this corresponds to a Lansky (patients \<16 years) or Karnofsky (≥16years) performance status of ≥50.

   1.6 T cell chimerism ≥20% donor-derived within the 4 weeks prior to cell infusion.

   1.7 Patient with ≤80% bone marrow involvement within 4 weeks prior to cell infusion. Medications like hydroxyurea, decitabine or cytarabine are allowed to control rising blasts between study enrollment and cell infusion.

   1.8 No systemic corticosteroid therapy for GVHD (≤ 5mg of prednisone or equivalent dose of systemic steroids for non-GVHD, non-autoimmune indications are allowed) for at least 4 weeks prior to cell infusion. Patients on systemic GVHD prophylaxis medications such as tacrolimus or sirolimus need to be off these medications for at least 4 weeks prior to cell infusion.

   1.9 No other systemic medications/treatments (e.g. ECP) for GVHD for at least 4 weeks prior to cell infusion.

   1.10 Ability of the patient or legal guardian to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

   1.11 Adequate organ function within 2 weeks of NK cell infusion as defined below:
   * Total bilirubin: ≤1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (except Gilbert's or disease-related hemolysis, then \<3 x ULN)
   * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT): ≤3 x institutional ULN
   * Serum creatinine ≤2.0mg/dL
   * O2 saturation: ≥90% on room air
   * LVEF \>40%. If there is no clinical evidence of a change in cardiovascular function from the time of pre-transplantation ECHO, then there is no need to repeat it. Otherwise, an ECHO will need to be repeated within 2 weeks of NK cell infusion.

   1.12 Negative pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential only.

   1.13 The effects of CIML NK cells and IL-2 on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 4 months after the last IL-2 dose administration.
2. Exclusion Criteria:

2.1 Extramedullary relapse involving immuno-privileged sites (e.g. CNS, testes, eyes). Other sites of extramedullary relapse (e.g. leukemia cutis, granulocytic sarcoma) are acceptable.

2.2 Participants who have had investigational agents within 4 weeks prior to cell infusion (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C), or immunotherapy within 8 weeks prior, or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks prior or standard chemotherapy administered more than 14 days ago. Use of hydroxyurea, hypomethylating agents, low-dose cytarabine or venetoclax to control counts within 4 weeks prior to cell infusion is permitted with study PI approval but would need to be stopped 1 day prior to administration of Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide preceding the NK cell infusion (provided that there are no ongoing AEs attributed to these agents that would preclude start of lymphodepletion in the view of the investigator). Patients on standard of care FLT-3, IDH1, and IDH2 inhibitors can stay on this treatment. Therapy with BCR-ABL inhibitors or bcl-2 inhibitors must be stopped 2 weeks before NK cell infusion and may be resumed after the end of the DLT period.

2.3 Prior history of Donor Lymphocyte Infusion (DLI) within 8 weeks of CIML NK infusion. DLI that was given before this time period and that did not result in any GVHD requiring systemic treatment is not an exclusion criterion.

2.4 Prior history of severe (grade 3 or 4) acute GVHD, or ongoing active GVHD requiring systemic treatment.

2.5 Solid organ transplant recipient. Prior allogeneic HLA matched or mismatched stem cell transplant is allowed in the pediatric cohort. Prior HLA matched related donor or HLA matched unrelated donor stem cell transplant is allowed in the adult cohort.

2.6 History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to IL-2 or other agents used in study.

2.7 Autoimmune disease: Patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease, are excluded from this study, as are patients with a history of symptomatic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic progressive sclerosis \[scleroderma\], systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune vasculitis \[e.g., Wegener's Granulomatosis\]) and motor neuropathy considered of autoimmune origin (e.g. Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Myasthenia Gravis). Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis are eligible to go on study.

2.8 Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.

2.9 Patients who develop a critical illness prior to NK cell infusion that would contraindicate the administration of Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide conditioning. Patients who recover from such illness may still be eligible, but this must be reviewed with the study PI. A repeat bone marrow examination may be required depending on the timing of recovery. Patients who become critically ill on the planned day of NK cell infusion are excluded if the NK cell infusion cannot be given within 48 hours of the planned day 0.

2.10 Pregnant women are excluded from this study because of the unknown teratogenic risk of CIML NK cells and IL-2 and with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects by Flu/Cy chemotherapy regimen. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with CIML NK cells and IL-2, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated on this study.

2.11 HIV-positive participants are ineligible because of the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with anti-retroviral agents used in this study. In addition, these participants are at increased risk of lethal infections when treated with marrow-suppressive therapy.

2.12 Individuals with active uncontrolled hepatitis B or C, HIV, or HTLV-1 are ineligible as they are at high risk of lethal treatment-related hepatotoxicity after HSCT.

2.13 Individuals with a history of a different malignancy are ineligible except for the following circumstances: 1. History of other malignancy and have had complete remission of disease for at least 2 years; 2. Diagnosed and treated within the past 2 years for: nonmetastatic melanoma, surgically resected (not needing systemic chemotherapy) squamous cell carcinoma of skin and nonmetastatic prostate cancer not needing systemic chemotherapy.

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations

• Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Susanne Baumeister, MD — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Study coordinator: Roman M. Shapiro, MD

Conditions: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia, Leukemia