FH-FOLR1 CAR T-cell therapy for children with relapsed or refractory AML
Official title: A Phase 1 Study of FOLR1 CAR T for Pediatric Patients With FOLR1/CBFA2T3::GLIS2+ Relapsed or Refractory AML
Run by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NCT06609928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test FH-FOLR1 CAR T cells in children aged six and under whose FOLR1-positive acute myeloid leukemia has returned or not responded to treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | Any age to 6 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | CAR T, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, chimeric antigen receptor, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine |
| Locations | 1 site (Seattle, Washington) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 24, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2042 |
| Registry record updated | August 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06609928 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children six years old or younger (weighing at least 7 kg) whose AML expresses FOLR1 and who have relapsed or refractory disease as defined in the protocol, can tolerate apheresis and lymphodepleting chemotherapy, have an identified stem cell donor, and have a life expectancy of at least eight weeks with a Lansky score ≥50.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients whose leukemia does not express FOLR1, who are older than six or below the weight requirement, who cannot tolerate apheresis or chemotherapy, or who lack an identified stem cell donor are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This phase I dose-escalation study tests the safety and optimal dose of FH-FOLR1 CAR T cells in pediatric patients with FOLR1-positive AML. Patients undergo apheresis to collect T cells, receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, and are given a single infusion of the manufactured CAR T cells. The protocol includes serial monitoring with blood tests, bone marrow biopsies/aspirations, CSF sampling, echocardiography, and possible imaging, and patients are followed for safety and disease status with long-term follow-up for up to 15 years. The primary goals are to identify side effects, define a tolerated dose, and observe early signs of anti-leukemia activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, FH-FOLR1 CAR T cells could produce durable remissions for children with FOLR1-positive relapsed or refractory AML who have limited treatment options.
How similar studies have gone: CAR T-cell therapies have produced major successes in B-cell leukemias, but CAR T approaches for AML—and targeting FOLR1 specifically—are novel with only limited prior clinical data.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Subject age ≤ 6 years. * Weight ≥ 7 kilograms. * AML that expresses FOLR1 by flow cytometry as assessed by Hematologics, Inc. Laboratory and meets one of the below definitions: * For subjects who have previously received an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), any evidence of AML re-emergence post HCT detectable by flow cytometry. * First relapse of AML ≤ 6 months from initial diagnosis. * First relapse of AML \> 6 months from initial diagnosis with minimal residual disease (MRD) ≥ 0.05% by flow cytometry after at least one re-induction attempt (one cycle of therapy). * Second or greater relapse of AML. * Refractory AML, defined as ≥ 0.1% leukemic cells determined by flow cytometry or \> 1% on biopsy after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. * Able to tolerate apheresis. * Life expectancy ≥ 8 weeks. * Has an appropriate stem cell donor source identified. * Lansky performance status score of ≥ 50. Subjects who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheelchair, will be considered ambulatory for purposes of assessing performance status. * The subject must discontinue all anticancer agents and radiotherapy and, in the opinion of the investigator, have fully recovered from significant acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy: * Chemotherapy and biologic agents: All chemotherapy and biologic therapy not specifically mentioned below must be discontinued ≥ 14 days prior to enrollment, with the exception of intrathecal chemotherapy for which there is not a required washout period. * Steroid use: All corticosteroid therapy (unless physiologic replacement dosing) must be discontinued ≥ 7 days prior to enrollment, unless being used to treat graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (if being used to treat GVHD see requirements). * Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) use: All TKIs must be discontinued ≥ 3 days prior to enrollment. * Hydroxyurea: must be discontinued ≥ 1 day prior to enrollment. * FOLR1 targeting therapy must be discontinued within 30 days prior to enrollment. * Gene modified cellular therapy: * Must be at least 30 days from most recent gene modified cell therapy infusion and document no evidence of modified cells in the peripheral blood OR * Must be at least 60 days from most recent gene modified cell therapy. * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) based on the following: * Age 1 to \< 2 years: maximum serum creatinine 0.6 mg/dL for male and 0.6 mg/dL for female. * Age 2 to \< 6 years: maximum serum creatinine 0.8 mg/dL for male and 0.8 mg/dL for female. * Age 6 to \< 10 years: maximum serum creatinine 1 mg/dL for male and 1 mg/dL for female. * Total bilirubin ≤ 3 times ULN for age OR conjugated bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL. * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)(serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase \[SGPT\]) ≤ 5 times ULN. * Shortening fraction ≥ 28% OR ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% as measured by echocardiogram. * Oxygen saturation ≥ 92% on room air without supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation. * Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥ 100 cells/uL. * Virology testing negative within 3 months prior to enrollment, to include: * HIV antigen \& antibody. * Hepatitis B surface antigen. * Hepatitis C antibody OR if positive, hepatitis C polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is negative. * Subject and/or legally authorized representative has signed the informed consent form for this study. Exclusion Criteria: * Active malignancy other than acute myeloid leukemia. * History of symptomatic non-AML central nervous system (CNS) disease or ongoing symptomatic CNS disease requiring medical intervention, including paresis, aphasia, cerebrovascular ischemia/hemorrhage, severe brain injury, dementia, cerebellar disease, organic brain syndrome, psychosis, coordination or movement disorder (subjects with non-febrile seizure disorder controlled on anti-epileptic medication and without seizure activity within 1 month are eligible). * CNS AML involvement that is symptomatic and in the opinion of the investigator, cannot be controlled during the interval between enrollment and T cell infusion. * If history of allogeneic stem cell transplant: active GVHD or receiving immunosuppressive therapy for treatment or prevention of GVHD within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. * If history of allogeneic stem cell transplant and patient has received donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) the subject is \< 8 weeks from DLI infusion. * Presence of active severe infection, defined as: * Positive blood culture within 48 hours of enrollment, OR * Fever above 38.2 degrees Celsius (C), AND clinical signs of infection within 48 hours of enrollment. * Primary immunodeficiency syndrome. * Subject has received prior virotherapy. * Subject and/or legally authorized representative unwilling to provide consent/assent for participation in the 15-year follow-up period, required if FH-FOLR1 CAR T cell therapy is administered. * Presence of any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prohibit the subject from undergoing treatment under this protocol. * Considered by the investigator to be unable to tolerate a lymphodepleting regimen.
Where it's running
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Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium
Seattle, Washington, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Katherine G. Tarlock, MD — Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium
- Study coordinator: Katherine G. Tarlock, MD
- Email: katherine.tarlock@seattlechildrens.org
- Phone: 206-667-7121
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.