Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages Any age to 21

Treatment for relapsed or refractory CD19-positive leukemia using allogeneic memory T-cells

Official title: A Phase I Study Evaluating Allogeneic Memory T Cells Engineered to Express Chimeric Antigen Receptors Specific for CD19 for the Treatment of Pediatric and Young Adult Patients ≤ 21 Years of Age With Relapsed or Refractory CD19-Positive Leukemia

Run by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NCT04881240 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new CAR T-cell therapy using special immune cells to see if it can help young people with tough-to-treat leukemia feel better.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
AgesAny age to 21 Years
SexAll
Enrollment60 (estimated)
SponsorSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsCAR T, chemotherapy
Locations1 site (Memphis, Tennessee)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 14, 2024
Main results expectedJuly 1, 2027
Study endsJuly 1, 2028
Registry record updatedAugust 31, 2026
Trial IDNCT04881240 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are pediatric patients aged 21 or younger with relapsed or refractory CD19-positive leukemia.

Probably not a fit

Patients who have not been diagnosed with CD19-positive leukemia or those who are not suitable for CAR T-cell therapy may not benefit from this study.

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 clinical study evaluates the safety and maximum tolerated dose of a novel CAR T-cell therapy using allogeneic memory T-cells that target CD19 for patients aged 21 and under with relapsed or refractory CD19-positive leukemia. The study employs a dose escalation design to assess the treatment's safety profile and potential anti-leukemic activity. Participants will be divided into two groups based on their prior stem cell transplant status, with a total of up to 60 participants expected. The study also aims to monitor the incidence of graft-versus-host disease following treatment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could provide a new treatment option for young patients with difficult-to-treat leukemia.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies using CAR T-cell therapies have shown promising results, indicating potential success for this novel approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria Eligibility Criteria for Donors: Apheresis and Manufacturing

* Age ≥ 18 years old
* At least single haplotype matched (≥ 3/6) family member
* HIV negative
* For females of child bearing age: Not pregnant as confirmed by negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days prior to enrollment AND Not lactating with intent to breastfeed
* Completed the process of donor eligibility determination as outlined in 21 CFR 1271 and agency guidance. \*For Cohort A only, an ineligible donor may be used under urgent medical need if the reason for ineligibility was previously present at time of transplant determination.

For Cohort A only, identified recipient with relapsed and/or refractory CD19-positive leukemia

For Cohort B only, iIdentified recipient with relapsed and/or refractory CD19-positive leukemia who is not suitable to receive autologous CD19-CAR T-cell therapy as defined by the following:

* Relapsed and/or refractory disease despite prior treatment with autologous CD19- CAR T-cell therapy
* History of prior autologous leukapheresis failure
* History of prior autologous CAR T-cell manufacturing failure
* Unable to undergo autologous leukapheresis in the opinion of the study PI(s): examples may include - patient small size/low weight, inadequate T-cell counts, rapidly progressive leukemia, clinical status not amenable to apheresis

Eligibility Criteria for Patients: Pre-Treatment Evaluation\*

Inclusion

• MEMCAR19 recipient candidate ≤\<21 years old with rRelapsed and/or refractory CD19-positive leukemia.

\*Due to potential scheduling challenges, all recipients may not be offered the Pre-Treatment Evaluation consent. This will not be counted as a deviation.

Eligibility Criteria for Patients:Treatment

* Age ≤ 21 years old
* Relapsed and/or refractory CD19-positive leukemia\*:

  * Refractory disease (defined as any of the following):

    * Primary refractory disease despite at least 2 cycles of an intensive chemotherapy regimen designed to induce remission
    * Refractory disease despite salvage therapy
  * Relapsed disease (defined as any of the following):

    * 2nd or greater relapse
    * Any relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT)
    * 1st relapse if patient requires an allogeneic HCT as part of standard of care relapse therapy, but is found to be ineligible and/or unsuitable for HCT

CD19-positivity confirmed within 2 months and after receipt of any CD19-directed therapy

* Patient cohorts:

  * Cohort A: patient has previously received a HCT from the selected CAR T-cell donor
  * Cohort B - patient has NOT previously received a HCT from the selected CAR T-cell donor.
* For Cohort B only, not suitable to receive autologous CD19-CAR T-cell therapy as defined above in Criteria: Eligibility Criteria for Donors: Apheresis and Manufacturing
* Detectable medullary CD19-positive leukemia
* Estimated life expectancy of ≥ 8 weeks
* Karnofsky or Lansky performance score ≥ 50
* No CNS-3 disease or any level of detectable leukemia in CNS with associated neurologic symptoms
* If history of allogeneic HCT (regardless of donor type), prior to planned CAR T-cell infusion, must meet the following criteria:

  * ≥ 3 months from HCT
  * have recovered from prior HCT therapy
  * have no evidence of active GVHD within prior 2 months
  * have not received a donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) within the 28 days prior to planned CAR T-cell infusion
* Adequate cardiac function: left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 40% or shortening fraction ≥ 25% (function may be supported by pharmacologic therapy)
* EKG without evidence of clinically significant arrhythmia
* Adequate renal function: creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR 50 ml/min/1.73m2 (GFR 40 ml/min/1.73m2 if \< 2 years of age)
* Adequate pulmonary function: forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥ 50% of predicted value; or pulse oximetry ≥ 92% on room air if patient is unable to perform pulmonary function testing
* Total bilirubin ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal for age, except in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 5 times the upper limit of normal for age
* No history of HIV infection
* No evidence of severe, uncontrolled bacterial, viral or fungal infection
* Has recovered from all NCI CTAE grade III-IV, non-hematologic acute toxicities from prior therapy
* For females of child bearing age:

  * Not pregnant with negative serum or urine pregnancy test ≤ 7 days prior to enrollment AND Not lactating with intent to breastfeed
* If sexually active, agreement to use birth control until 6 months after CAR T-cell infusion
* No history of hypersensitivity reactions to murine protein-containing products
* Not receiving systemic steroids therapy exceeding the equivalent of 0.5 mg/kg/day of methylprednisolone ≤ 7 days prior to CAR T-cell infusion
* Not receiving systemic therapy ≤ 14 days prior to CAR T-cell infusion, which will interfere with the activity of the CAR T-cell product in vivo (in the opinion of the study PI(s))
* Not receiving intrathecal chemotherapy ≤ 7 days prior to CAR T-cell infusion

Exclusion Criteria:

NA

Where it's running

  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Memphis, Tennessee, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Aimee C. Talleur, MD — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Aimee C. Talleur, MD
  • Email: referralinfo@stjude.org
  • Phone: 866-278-5833

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.