Treatment of relapsed large B-cell lymphoma with WZTL-002 CAR T-cells

A Phase 2 Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of WZTL-002 in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma (ENABLE-2)

This study is testing a new CAR T-cell therapy called WZTL-002 to see if it can help adults with relapsed large B-cell lymphoma that hasn't worked with standard chemotherapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Malaghan Institute of Medical Research (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: alemtuzumab, CAR T, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, prednisone, chimeric antigen receptor, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine
• Locations: 3 sites (Christchurch, Christchurch Central and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06486051 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of a new CAR T-cell therapy called WZTL-002 for adults with relapsed large B-cell lymphoma that has not responded to standard chemotherapy. Participants will undergo a procedure to collect their white blood cells, receive chemotherapy to prepare for the treatment, and then receive the WZTL-002 CAR T-cells. The trial aims to assess the complete response rate and the risk of neurotoxicity associated with the therapy by comparing results with historical data from similar treatments. Participants will be closely monitored for side effects and undergo scans at various intervals post-treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 75 with biopsy-proven relapsed or treatment-refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

Not a fit: Patients with large B-cell lymphoma that has not been confirmed by biopsy or those outside the specified age range may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could provide a new treatment option for patients with relapsed large B-cell lymphoma who have limited alternatives.

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

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 to 75 years (inclusive) at the time of informed consent
2. Signed written informed consent for this trial
3. Biopsy-proven relapsed or treatment-refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the following subtypes, as per the 2022 WHO classification of haematolymphoid tumours

   * Large B-cell lymphomas of the following histological subtypes:

     * Diffuse LBCL, not otherwise specified
     * Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma/high grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements
     * Large B-cell lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement
     * High grade B-cell lymphoma with 11q aberrations
     * High grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified
     * Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
     * Follicular large B-cell lymphoma
     * EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified
     * Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma associated with chronic inflammation
     * Primary cutaneous DLBCL, leg type
   * Large B-cell lymphoma of one of the above subtypes that has transformed from follicular or marginal zone lymphoma
4. Received adequate first-line lymphoma therapy for the qualifying histology (as defined in inclusion criterion 3 above), comprising at least 2 cycles of a standard combination regimen incorporating an anthracycline and an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody
5. Relapsed or refractory disease meeting one of the following criteria:

   * Relapsed or refractory within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy, defined as:

     * Progressive disease following ≥ 2 cycles of chemoimmunotherapy, or
     * Stable disease following ≥ 4 cycles of chemoimmunotherapy, or
     * Partial response following ≥ 6 cycles of chemoimmunotherapy, or
     * Complete response followed by biopsy-proven relapse within 12 months of completing first-line chemoimmunotherapy.
   * Relapsed or refractory following second-line chemoimmunotherapy, defined as:

     * Lack of complete response to, or relapse following, autologous stem cell transplantation as part of second-line therapy for the qualifying histology, or
     * Inability to proceed to autologous stem cell transplantation due to lack of response to 2 cycles of second-line chemoimmunotherapy incorporating both a platinum agent and an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody
6. Positron emission tomography (PET) positive disease according to the Lugano 2014 criteria
7. Available tumour tissue (comprising a tissue block or at least 6 unstained slides) for central histological review
8. Lymphoma-related life expectancy at least 12 weeks, and life expectancy related to conditions other than lymphoma at least 12 months
9. ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
10. Adequate haematologic function, defined by:

    * Neutrophils ≥ 1.0 × 10\^9/L, and Platelets ≥ 75 × 10\^9/L, and
    * Lymphocytes ≥ 0.3 × 10\^9/L
11. Adequate renal function, defined by estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl) or glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \>/= 45mL/min using the Cockroft Gault estimation, CKD-EPI equation or as assessed by direct measurement.
12. Adequate hepatic function, defined by serum bilirubin \< 2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless attributable to Gilbert's syndrome) and alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase \< 3 × ULN.
13. Adequate lung function, defined as ≤ Grade 1 dyspnoea according to NCI CTCAE v5.0, and oxygen saturation (sO2) ≥ 92% on room air.
14. Adequate cardiac function, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40% as assessed by echocardiogram or multigated acquisition (MUGA), performed within 28 days of commencing screening.
15. For female participants:

    * Agree to use a condom if undertaking sexual activity with any partner during lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and
    * If of reproductive potential agree to use a highly effective method of contraception from the time of enrolment until at least 12 months after administration of WZTL-002, or
    * Are not of reproductive potential defined as either,

      * being amenorrhoeic for at least 12 consecutive months with FSH 30 ≥ IU/L, or
      * previously undergone a sterilisation procedure
16. For male participants:

    * Agree to use a condom if undertaking sexual activity with any partner during lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and
    * If undertaking sexual activity with a female partner of reproductive potential agree to use a highly effective method of contraception from the time of enrolment until at least 12 months after administration of WZTL-002, and
    * Agree not to donate sperm for conception, or to provide gametes for in vitro fertilisation for at least 12 months after administration of WZTL-002
17. Participant agrees not to donate blood components at any time after receiving WZTL-002

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active central nervous system (CNS) involvement by lymphoma. In patients with a history of CNS disease or a clinical suspicion of current CNS disease, lumbar puncture and MRI brain must be performed within 30 days of enrolment to exclude current CNS involvement.
2. Active CNS pathology including: epilepsy, seizure within the preceding year, aphasia, paresis, stroke, dementia, psychosis within the preceding year, severe brain injury, Parkinson disease, or cerebellar disease
3. B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the following subtypes, as per the 2022 WHO classification of haematolymphoid tumours:

   * Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
   * T-cell/histiocyte rich LBCL
   * Primary LBCL of immune-privileged sites
   * Fluid overload associated LBCL
   * Fibrin-associated LBCL
   * Plasmablastic lymphoma
   * Mediastinal grey zone lymphoma
   * Intravascular LBCL
   * ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma
   * Lymphomatoid granulomatosis
   * Burkitt lymphoma
   * Primary effusion lymphoma
   * KSHV/HHV8-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
4. Patient has received 3 or more prior lines of therapy for LBCL, where 1 line of therapy is defined as 1 or more cycles of a combination chemoimmunotherapy with or without pre-planned consolidation therapy (radiotherapy, autologous stem cell transplant or immunotherapy)
5. Requirement for urgent lymphoma therapy due to tumour-related symptoms, or due to imminent risk of blood vessel, airway, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, nerve or spinal cord compression
6. Active autoimmune disease requiring current systemic immunosuppression
7. Active sarcoidosis
8. Prior solid organ transplantation or prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT)
9. Peripheral blood CD3+ T cells \< 150/μL (0.15 x10\^9/L) as assessed by lymphocyte subset analysis
10. History of active malignancy other than B-cell malignancy within 2 years prior to enrolment, with the exception of: adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix; adequately treated basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin; other localised malignancy surgically resected (or radically treated with another treatment modality) with curative intent
11. Prior treatment with:

    * gene therapy (including CAR T-cell therapy) or CD19-targeted immunotherapy, or
    * purine analogue (including bendamustine) or alemtuzumab within 6 months of enrolment, or
    * bispecific T-cell engager, radiotherapy or an investigational medicine within 4 weeks of enrolment, or
    * cytotoxic chemotherapy, systemic corticosteroids (at doses of ≥ 10 mg prednisone daily or equivalent), monoclonal antibody or antibody-drug conjugate (other than alemtuzumab) within 2 weeks of enrolment.
12. Pregnant or lactating female
13. Known sensitivity to immunoglobulin or to components of the IP
14. Current or prior HIV infection
15. Vaccination with a live virus within the 4 weeks of enrolment
16. Inadequately-controlled systemic infection
17. Serologic status reflecting active viral hepatitis B or active hepatitis C infection as follows:

    * Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb). Patients with presence of HBcAb, but absence of HBsAg, are eligible if hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is undetectable (or is \< 20 IU/mL), and if they are willing to receive appropriate antiviral prophylaxis.
    * Presence of active Hepatitis C infection as determined by Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA detected by PCR or nucleic acid testing (NAT). Patients with presence of HCV antibody, are eligible if HCV RNA is undetectable.
18. Current New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 2 or higher cardiac symptoms, or myocardial infarction, unstable angina or other clinically significant cardiac disease within the past 6 months
19. Significant concomitant illnesses which would in the Investigators opinion make the patient an unsuitable candidate for the trial
20. Patients who have diminished capacity or any circumstance that would prohibit them from understanding and providing informed consent in accordance with ICH-GCP
21. Patient does not provide consent to enrol to an International Cellular Therapy Registry

Where this trial is running

Christchurch, Christchurch Central and 2 other locations

• Christchurch Hospital — Christchurch, Christchurch Central, New Zealand (Recruiting)
• Wellington Hospital — Newtown, Wellington Region, New Zealand (Recruiting)
• Auckland City Hospital — Auckland, New Zealand (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Philip George, MBChB — Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Capital Coast & Hutt Valley
• Study coordinator: Brittany Lavender

Conditions Large B-cell Lymphoma; Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified; Primary Mediastinal Large B-cell Lymphoma; Transformed Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapy; CD19 Antigen; Toll-Like Receptor 2; CD28 Antigen