Using genetically modified T-cells and a vaccine to treat certain types of B-cell lymphoma after stem cell transplantation

Pilot/Feasibility Study of CMV-Specific CD19-CAR T Cells Plus CMV-MVA Triplex Following Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients With Intermediate or High Grade B-Lineage Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL)

Phase 1 Interventional City of Hope Medical Center · NCT05432635

This study is testing a new treatment using specially modified immune cells and a vaccine to see if it can help people with certain types of B-cell lymphoma after they've had a stem cell transplant.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment15 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCity of Hope Medical Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionstocilizumab, cetuximab, chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone, CAR T, chimeric antigen receptor
Locations1 site (Duarte, California)
Trial IDNCT05432635 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase I trial investigates the safety and side effects of cytomegalovirus (CMV) specific CD19-chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells combined with the CMV-modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) triplex vaccine following stem cell transplantation in patients with intermediate or high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The study aims to assess the toxicity profile of the treatment, the feasibility of manufacturing the CAR T-cells, and the immune response generated by the vaccine. Participants will be monitored for the expansion and persistence of the CAR T-cells, as well as the rate of CMV reactivation and progression-free survival. The trial will include patients who are in their first relapse after achieving complete remission or did not achieve complete remission after first-line therapy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with intermediate or high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma who are in first relapse after achieving complete remission or did not achieve complete remission after first-line therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with low-grade B-cell lymphoma or those who are not candidates for stem cell transplantation may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new treatment option that enhances the immune response against B-cell lymphoma, potentially improving survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies using CAR T-cell therapy have shown promising results in treating various types of lymphomas, indicating potential success for this novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative.

  * Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained per institutional guidelines
* Agreement to allow the use of archival tissue from diagnostic tumor biopsies.

  * If unavailable, exceptions may be granted with study PI approval
* Note: For research participants who do not speak English, a short form consent may be used with a City of Hope (COH) certified interpreter/translator to proceed with screening and leukapheresis, while the request for a translated full consent is processed
* Age \>= 18 years
* Karnofsky performance status (KPS) \>= 70
* Life expectancy \>= 16 weeks at the time of enrollment
* Patients with an indication to be considered for HSCT, who are diagnosed with intermediate or high-grade B cell NHL (e.g., diffuse large B-cell lymphoma \[DLBCL\], mantle cell lymphoma \[MCL\], or transformed NHL) in first relapse after achieving complete remission (CR) or did not achieve CR after a first line therapy

  * Note: COH pathology review should confirm that research participant's diagnostic material is consistent with history of intermediate or high-grade CD19+ malignancy
* No known contraindications to myeloablative HSCT, leukapheresis, steroids or tocilizumab, smallpox vaccine and any other modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccines
* Patient must be CMV seropositive
* Total serum bilirubin =\< 2.0 mg/dL
* Participants with Gilbert syndrome may be included if their total bilirubin is =\< 3.0
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \< 2.5 x upper limits of normal (ULN)
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 2.5 x ULN
* Serum creatinine =\< 2.5 x ULN or estimated creatinine clearance of \>= 40 mL/min per the Cockcroft-Gault formula, and the participant is not on hemodialysis
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1000/uL (Transfusions and growth factors must not be used to meet this requirement at initial screening)
* Hemoglobin (Hb) \>= 8 g/dl (Transfusions and growth factors must not be used to meet this requirement at initial screening)
* Platelet count \>= 50,000/uL (\>= 30,000/uL if bone marrow plasma cells are =\> 50 percent of cellularity) (Transfusions and growth factors must not be used to meet this requirement at initial screening)
* Left ventricular ejection fraction \>= 45 percent within 8 weeks before enrollment
* Oxygen (O2) saturation \> 92% without requiring supplemental oxygen
* Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): negative urine or serum pregnancy test
* If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required
* Agreement by females and males of childbearing potential to use an effective method of birth control or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through at least 6 months after the last dose of protocol therapy.

  * Childbearing potential defined as not being surgically sterilized (men and women) or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year (women only)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior autologous/allogeneic stem cell transplant
* Growth factors within 14 days of enrollment
* Platelet transfusions within 7 days of enrollment
* Concurrent use of systemic steroids or chronic use of immunosuppressant medications. Recent or current use of inhaled or topical steroids in standard doses is not exclusionary. Physiologic replacement of steroids (prednisone =\< 5 mg /day, or equivalent doses of other corticosteroids) is allowed
* Patients with active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immune suppressive therapy are not allowed
* Participants may not be receiving any other investigational agents or concurrent biological therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy
* Any standard contraindications to myeloablative HSCT per standard of care practices at COH
* Subjects with clinically significant arrhythmia or arrhythmias not stable on medical management within two weeks of screening
* Subjects with a known history or prior diagnosis of optic neuritis or other immunologic or inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS), including seizure disorder, any measurable masses of CNS, or any other active CNS disease. Note: Research participants with a history of CNS disease that has been effectively treated to complete remission (\< 5 white blood cells \[WBC\] / mm\^3 and no blasts in cerebrospinal fluid \[CSF\]) will be eligible
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study agents or cetuximab
* Known bleeding disorders (e.g., von Willebrand's disease) or hemophilia
* History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to screening
* History of other malignancies, except for malignancy surgically resected (or treated with other modalities) with curative intent, basal cell carcinoma of the skin or localized squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; non-muscle invasive bladder cancer; malignancy treated with curative intent with no known active disease present for \>= 3 years.
* Clinically significant uncontrolled illness
* Active infection requiring antibiotics
* Immunodeficiency virus (human immunodeficiency virus \[HIV\]) positive
* Active viral hepatitis
* Females only: Pregnant or breastfeeding
* Any other condition that would, in the investigator's judgment, contraindicate the subject's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns with clinical study procedures
* Procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics). Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with all study
* Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with all study procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics)

Where this trial is running

Duarte, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions B-Cell Non-Hodgkin LymphomaDiffuse Large B-Cell LymphomaMantle Cell LymphomaRecurrent B-Cell Non-Hodgkin LymphomaRecurrent Diffuse Large B-Cell LymphomaRecurrent Mantle Cell LymphomaRecurrent Transformed Non-Hodgkin LymphomaTransformed Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.