Engineered NK cells for treating recurrent glioblastoma

A Phase I Clinical Trial With a Window-of-Opportunity Component of Engineered NK Cells Containing Deleted TGF-ßR2 and NR3C1 in Recurrent Grade 4 Astrocytoma (Glioblastoma)

This study is testing a new type of immune cell treatment for people with recurrent glioblastoma to see if it's safe and how well it works against the tumor.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (estimated)
• Ages: 12 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (other)
• Drugs / interventions: bevacizumab, chemotherapy, radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Houston, Texas)
• Trial ID: NCT04991870 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase I trial aims to determine the safety and tolerability of genetically modified natural killer (NK) cells that lack TGF-betaR2 and NR3C1 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. The study will assess the maximum tolerated dose and monitor the immune response and anti-tumor function of these NK cells in tumor tissue. Participants will receive escalating doses of these engineered cells, and their clinical responses will be evaluated using established neuro-oncology assessment criteria.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with histologically confirmed recurrent glioblastoma or gliosarcoma who have previously undergone radiation and temozolomide therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with non-recurrent glioblastoma or those who have not received prior standard treatments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a novel immunotherapy option for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, potentially improving survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies using engineered NK cells have shown promise in other cancers, suggesting potential for success in this context.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Signed and dated informed consent.
2. Male or female participants aged ≥ 12 years on the day of signing informed consent.
3. Has histologically confirmed supratentorial World Health Organization grade 4 recurrent astrocytoma to include recurrent IDH WT glioblastoma or gliosarcoma and recurrent IDHmutant grade 4 astrocytoma, and recurrent gliosarcoma with any prior number of recurrences, and who have received prior radiation and temozolomide therapy. Participants will be eligible if the original histology was lower-grade glioma grade 2 or 3 and a subsequent histological diagnosis of recurrent glioblastoma or IDH-mutant grade 4 astrocytoma is made.
4. Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) of \>70 at trial entry. Lansky \>70 at trial entry for patients less than 16.
5. Must be at least 12 weeks from receiving conformal radiation, unless RANO criteria for early progression are met.
6. A baseline brain MRI with Advance Brain Tumor Imaging (ABTI) must be obtained no more than 30 days prior to study registration
7. Patients having undergone recent surgery are eligible so long as they are at least 3 weeks from resection or at least 1 week from stereotactic biopsy and recovered from any operative or perioperative complications.
8. Adequate hematological function defined by white blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 3 x 10°9/L with absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 10°9/L, lymphocyte count ≥ 0.5 x 10°9/L, platelet count ≥ 100 x 10°/L, and Hgb ≥ 9 g/ dL (in absence of blood transfusion).
9. Adequate hepatic function defined by a total bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 x ULN, an AST level ≤ 2.5 x ULN, and an ALT level ≤ 2.5 x ULN, and INR ≤ 1.5 10. Adequate renal function defined creatinine ≥ 1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min for participant with creatinine levels \> 1.5 X institutional ULN

11\. Female participant of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days (+/-2 working days) of study registration.

12\. Female participants of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study and for 3 months after the last dose of study therapy. Participants of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year.

13\. Male participants should agree to use 2 methods of highly effective contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy and for 3 months after the last dose of study therapy.

14\. For the surgical expansion group (Group 2): there must be at least 1 cm2 of contrast-enhancing disease that is considered resectable by the neurosurgeon.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Has received prior therapy with Gliadel or bevacizumab.
2. Has received prior interstitial brachytherapy, implanted chemotherapy, or therapeutics delivered by local injection or convection enhanced delivery.
3. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of cancer directed investigational agent or using an investigational device within 4 weeks since last dose of agent administration or device use, or is planning to continue or start treatment with Optune® during participation in this trial.
4. Has known severe hypersensitivity to monoclonal antibodies, any history of anaphylaxis, or recent, within 5 months, history of uncontrolled asthma.
5. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (positive HIV 1/2 antibodies); HTLV1 and/or HTLV2; active Hepatitis B (e.g., HbsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected). Patients with prior HBV vaccination (anti-HBs positive, HbsAg negative, anti-HBc negative) will NOT be excluded.
6. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving any immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to study registration.
7. Has had prior chemotherapy or targeted small molecule therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 0.

   1. Note: Participants with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study.
   2. Note: If participant received major surgery (other than craniotomy), they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
8. Has had prior radiation therapy less than 12 weeks prior to study registration, unless RANO criteria for early progression are met.
9. Has had prior therapy with any antibody/drug targeting T cell co-regulatory proteins (immune checkpoints) such as anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA-4 antibody within the last three months prior to study registration -.
10. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment.

    Exceptions include but are not limited to basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ cervical cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy. Any exceptions must be discussed with the protocol PI.
11. Has known gliomatous cerebri, extracranial disease, or tumor localized primarily to the brainstem or spinal cord.
12. Brain midline shift greater than 0.5 cm or pending herniation seen on baseline MRI ABTI.
13. Tumors larger than 5 cm at greatest diameter
14. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Participants with vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy would be an exception to this rule. Participants that require intermittent use of bronchodilators or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study. Participants with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjogren's syndrome will not be excluded from the study.
15. Has evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
16. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy or that in the opinion of the PI may interfere with the participant's participation, assessment of experimental treatment toxicity or increase the participant's risk of side effects.
17. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate in the opinion of the treating investigator.
18. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
19. Is pregnant, breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the screening visit and through 3 months after last dose of the study treatment.
20. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
21. Has a contraindication for undergoing MRIs.
22. Has evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy.
23. Is on full dose anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy that cannot be held.
24. Has significant hemorrhage on baseline MRI ABTI defined as \>1 cm diameter of acute blood.
25. Has received any organ transplantation, including allogeneic stem-cell transplantation, but with the exception of transplants that do not require immunosuppression (e.g., corneal transplant, hair transplant).
26. Has multicentric disease. Subject has multicentric GBM, defined as discrete sites of contrast enhancing disease without contiguous T2/FLAIR abnormality that require distinct radiotherapy ports. Satellite lesions that are associated with a contiguous area of T2/FLAIR abnormality as the main lesion(s) and that are encompassed within the same radiotherapy port as the main lesion(s) are permitted.

Treatment will be up to 32 weeks in duration.

The number of cells administered will be based on gene editing efficiency. CB-NK-TGF-£\]R2-/NR3C1-cells will be administered via intraventricular injection via an Ommaya reservoir on day 0 and every 4 weeks y for up to 8 doses total in Group 1.

Surgical patients in Group 2 will undergo intraventricular insertion of an Ommaya (day -14 to -

1). They will then undergo IT injection via the Ommaya reservoir of CB-NK-TGF-£\]R2-/NR3C1-cells on day 0. Prior to planned tumor resection to occur between days 7-14. Every 4 week intraventricular injections of CB-NK-TGF-£\]R2-/NR3C1- cells will be administered for a total of 8 intraventricular treatments.

In the setting of any surgical complications following Ommaya placement, CB-NK-TGF-£\]R2-/NR3C1- cells may be delayed and administered once the patient is deemed stable by the neurosurgeon following Ommaya placement.

Treatment will continue until tumor progression or intolerable toxicity, or a maximum of 8 intraventricular treatments with CB-NK-TGF-£\]R2-/NR3C1- cells whichever occurs first.

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

• M D Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Shiao-Pei S Weathers, MD — M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Study coordinator: Shiao-Pei Weathers, MD

Conditions: Recurrent Gliosarcoma, Recurrent Supratentorial Glioblastoma, Supratentorial Gliosarcoma