Donor-derived regulatory T cell infusion with interleukin-2 for refractory chronic GVHD

Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Donor-derived Treg Cell Injection Combined With Recombinant Human Interleukin-2 in the Treatment of Refractory cGVHD Subjects

This will try infusing donor-derived regulatory T cells together with low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 in adults with steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Quick facts

• Phase: Early Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 18 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 70 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: rituximab, imatinib, CAR-T, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai)
• Trial ID: NCT06920199 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This open-label, single-arm early-phase dose-escalation trial uses a rapid-titration followed by a 3+3 design to identify safe dose levels of donor-derived Treg cell infusions given with recombinant human interleukin-2. Three dose cohorts (1×10^6, 5×10^6, and 10×10^6 Treg cells per kg) each receive a single infusion combined with IL-2 dosing to support Treg expansion. The trial will monitor safety and tolerability, measure changes and persistence of peripheral blood Treg cells, and evaluate pharmacodynamic markers alongside preliminary clinical responses in moderate to severe refractory cGVHD. Follow-up visits will track organ responses, steroid usage, and adverse events.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–70 years who underwent allogeneic HSCT and have moderate or severe steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent cGVHD with a stable prednisone dose greater than 0.25 mg/kg/day for at least four weeks are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients with mild cGVHD, active uncontrolled infections, major organ failure, or without a suitable donor for Treg collection are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combined therapy could boost regulatory T cells, lessen cGVHD symptoms, and reduce patients' dependence on steroids.

How similar studies have performed: Small clinical studies have shown that low-dose IL-2 can expand Tregs and improve cGVHD and early adoptive Treg transfer trials have demonstrated safety and signals of benefit, so this combined approach builds on promising but still preliminary evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects aged 18-70 years old, male or female;
* The subjects had received allo-HSCT, including cord blood transplantation;
* TSubjects with moderate/severe cGVHD that meets the NIH diagnostic criteria (031) for steroid dependence or resistance, meeting one of the following:

  1. There was no improvement in cGVHD in initial treatment patients treated with \> 0.5mg/kg/ day or 1 mg/kg/ day every other day for at least 4 weeks;
  2. Steroid dependence: predtisone dose \> 0.25 mg/kg/d or \> 0.5 mg/kg/qod cGVHD relapse or progression; cGVHD recurred after two attempts to gradually reduce prednisone dose at an interval of at least 8 weeks, with prednisone dose \> 0.25 mg/kg/day to be maintained.
* Prednisone dose \> 0.25 mg/kg/d for more than 4 weeks; Subjects must maintain a stable prednisone dose for 4 weeks prior to the first Treg cell infusion and not increase or discontinue other immunosuppressants (including cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and sirolimus);
* The ECOG score of the subjects was 0-2;
* the expected survival of the subject is more than 3 months;
* Liver, kidney, heart and lung function meet the following requirements (except liver and kidney dysfunction caused by cGVHD) :

  1. Creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft Gault formula) ≥60 mL/min;
  2. Cardiac ejection fraction greater than 50%, no clinically significant electrocardiogram changes;
  3. Forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in the first second of baseline lung function ≥50%, and FEV1 decline caused by cGVHD could be included;
  4. Total bilirubin ≤2.0ULN; ALT and AST≤3ULN, ALT and AST increases caused by cGVHD could be included in the group.
* Hematopoietic function: neutrophils \>1×10\^9/L, platelets \>25×10\^9/L; Supportive treatments such as platelet transfusion and other cytokines are excluded.
* The subject or the subject's guardian can understand this experiment and has signed the informed consent.
* Donor age 14-70 years old, male or female;
* The ECOG score of the donor is 0-1;
* The donor must be a hematopoietic stem cell donor who underwent allo-HSCT prior to the subject;
* Female donors must test negative for serum or urine beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) within 3 weeks of blood collection;
* The donor can establish the necessary venous access for collection, without the contraindication of white blood cell collection; If peripheral venous leukocyte collection is insufficient, be willing to insert a central catheter; (15) The donor agrees to donate and signs a consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects had a recurrence of primary malignant disease before receiving Treg treatment;
* The subjects had persistent, recurrent or delayed aGVHD;
* Continuous use of prednisone \>1 mg/kg/day is required;
* The severity of the subject's cGVHD cannot be assessed by physical examination or laboratory examination;
* overlap syndrome；
* The subjects had major organ (cardio-cerebrovascular, pulmonary) dysfunction not caused by cGVHD, and had previous (within 3 months) gastrointestinal active bleeding; History of uncontrolled hypertension or hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy, history or evidence of significant cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk, including any of the following conditions: congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, clinically significant arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, etc.); History of arterial thrombosis (such as stroke, transient ischemic attack) within the last 3 months; A history of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or coronary angiogenesis, defibrillation, or any clinically relevant complication or disease within the last 6 months that could pose a risk to subject safety or interfere with study evaluation, procedure, or completion;
* The subjects are hemodialysis patients;
* The subject or donor has an active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that requires treatment；
* The subjects are pregnant or lactating women; Subjects who plan to become pregnant during the post-transfusion study, or within 1 year of completion or withdrawal from the study;
* Participants who had received IL-2 therapy or drug therapy targeting IL-2 within 4 weeks prior to enrollment；
* Received DLI treatment within 100 days before enrollment;
* Received CAR-T or similar engineered cell therapy within 100 days prior to enrollment;
* Had received new cGVHD therapies (including imatinib, BTK inhibitors, rituximab and other immunosuppressants) within 4 weeks before enrollment after transplantation;
* Have a history of microvascular diseases such as TMA, hemolytic uremic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, etc；
* Subjects with poor IL-2 treatment compliance;
* Participants who participated in other CGVHD-related clinical studies within 4 weeks prior to enrollment;
* Subjects who are known to be allergic to any component of Treg cell injection;
* Any situation that the investigator believes would compromise the safety of the subject or interfere with the study purpose, or that the investigator considers it inappropriate to participate in the study;
* Having a medical condition that affects the signing of written informed consent or the inability to follow study procedures; Unwilling or unable to comply with research requirements;
* The donor was a pregnant woman.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai

• Shanghai General Hospital — Shanghai, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: xianmin song, Doctor — Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
• Study coordinator: xianmin song, Doctor

Conditions cGVHD; Steroid dependence; Refractory cGVHD