Overview
The safety and efficacy of the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T, a CD19-targeting, TRAC and Power3 (SPPL3) double gene deleted allogeneic CAR-T cell product, are undergoing rigorous evaluation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) subjects from the ATHENA trial (NCT06014073). Unexpectedly, expansion of the initial residual CD3-positive CAR T from products were measured in patients' peripheral blood (PB) without exception. Accompanying with host immune reconstitution and appearance of the detectable B cells, the CD3-positive allogenic CAR T cells exhibited a compelling amplification advantage over CD3-negative CAR T cells. The amplification of CD3-positive CAR T cell population dynamically suppressed host B cell recovery, and presumably surveilled the recurrence or progression of tumors, but did not induce typical Graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD). Additionally, a series of in vitro experiments illustrated that the HLA-mismatched fratricide between host T cells and TCR-reserved Power3 (SPPL3)-deleted allogenic CAR T cells was markedly slashed, which in combination with investigators' observed clinical safety data supported the notion that only genomic deletion of Power3 (SPPL3) gene in allo-CAR T cells is sufficient to overcome GvHD and host T cell-mediated rejection response.
In this study, investigators will disable the Power3 (SPPL3) gene of T cells from healthy donors to prepare CAR T cells. This approach harnesses the tonic signaling of CAR T cells, resulting in enhanced persistence and improved response to treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL).
Description
Phase 1 (dose escalation)
In phase 1, 6-18 subjects will be enrolled. Subjects will receive 3 doses of allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T cell therapy ( 1 × 10^6 cells/kg、3 × 10^6 cells/kg、6 × 10^6 cells/kg) increases from low dose to high dose according to the "3 + 3" principle:
Three (3) subjects are enrolled in a cohort corresponding to a dose level. If 1 subject in a cohort of 3 subjects experiences a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), 3 additional subjects will be enrolled at the current dose level. For safety purposes, the administration of allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T will be staggered by 28 days between the first two subjects in each cohort. And for each of the remaining cohorts, the administration of allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T will be staggered by 28 days before enter into the next cohort.
Phase 2 (expansion cohort)
In phase 2, 10 to 12 subjects will be enrolled and receive cell infusion at dose of recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), which will be determined based on the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), occurrence of DLT, the obtained efficacy results, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and other data according to the phase 1.
Objectives
The primary objectives of the phase 1 were to evaluate the tolerability and safety of allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T in patients with refractory/relapsed (r/r) B-ALL, and determine RP2D. The primary purpose of the phase 2 study was to evaluate the efficacy of allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T in the above population.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 16-70 (inclusive).
- Patient with r/r CD19+ B-ALL, as per guidelines (NCCN, 2019)
- morphologically confirmed with ≥ 5% leukaemic blasts in the bonemarrow;
- or presenting a quantifiable MRD load of 1x10^-3 , assessed by multiparameter flow cytometry and/or quantitative polymerase chain reaction, at the end of the last induction treatment.
Relapsed disease is defined as:
- second or subsequent bone marrow relapse or,
- any bone marrow relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).
Refractory disease is defined by not achieving an initial CR after 2 cycles of a
standard chemotherapy regimen (primary refractory). Subjects who were refractory to
subsequent chemotherapy regimens after an initial remission were considered
chemorefractory.
3. Those who relapsed 3 months post allo-HSCT or autologous CAR-T therapy can be
enrolled.
4. Toxicities due to prior therapy must be stable and recovered to ≤ Grade 1 (except
for hematological toxicities and clinically non-significant toxicities such as
alopecia).
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2.
6. Adequate renal, hepatic, pulmonary and cardiac function defined as:
- Serum creatinine≤1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN) or creatinine clearance (as estimated by Cockcroft Gault) ≥ 60 mL/min.
- Serum alanine aminotransferase / aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ≤ 3 upper limit of normal (ULN); Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 ULN, except in subjects with 3) Gilbert's syndrome.
- Cardiac ejection fraction ≥ 50%, no evidence of pericardial effusion as determined by an echocardiogram (ECHO), and no clinically significant electrocardiogram (ECG) findings.
- Coagulation Function: International Normalized Ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) ≤ 1.5 times ULN.
- Baseline oxygen saturation >91% on room air. 7. Subjects of both genders who are willing to practice birth control from the time of
consent through 6 months after the completion of conditioning chemotherapy. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (females who have undergone surgical sterilization or who have been postmenopausal for at least 2 years are not considered to be of childbearing potential).
8. Voluntarily participate in this clinical trial and sign an informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Expected survival time < 3 months per Principal Investigator's opinion.
- History of malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ (e.g. cervix, bladder, breast) unless disease free for at least 3 years.
- Patients who received any immunocellular therapy within 3 months before enrollment.
- Active central nervous system (CNS) leukaemia (CNS-3).
- Clinically active significant CNS dysfunction.
- Known history of irreversible severe neurological toxicity related to previous antileukaemic treatment leading to organic central nervous system lesions.
- Use of previous anti-leukemic therapy within 5 half-lives prior to allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T administration; participation in non-interventional registries or epidemiological studies is allowed.
- Radioimmunotherapy, radiotherapy, within 8 weeks (except prophylaxis of CNS involvement) before Inclusion.
- History of severe, immediate hypersensitivity reaction attributed to lymphodepletion drugs or any component of allogeneic Power3 (SPPL3) knock-out CD19 CAR-T.
- Presence or suspicion of fungal, bacterial, viral, or other infection that is uncontrolled or requiring intravenous (IV) antimicrobials for management.
- Uncontrolled or active infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, acute or chronic active hepatitis B or C, epstein-barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
- History or presence of CNS disorder such as seizure disorder, cerebrovascular ischemia/hemorrhage, dementia, cerebellar disease, or any autoimmune disease with CNS involvement.
- Subjects with cardiac atrial or cardiac ventricular lymphoma involvement.
- History of myocardial infarction, cardiac angioplasty or stenting, unstable angina, or other clinically significant cardiac disease within 12 months of enrollment.
- Expected or possible requirement for urgent therapy within 6 weeks due to ongoing or impending oncologic emergency (eg, tumor mass effect, tumor lysis syndrome).
- Primary immunodeficiency.
- History of autoimmune disease (e.g. Crohn's, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus) resulting in end organ injury or requiring systemic immunosuppression/systemic disease modifying agents within the last 2 years.
- History of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism requiring systemic anticoagulation within 6 months of enrollment.
- Any medical condition likely to interfere with assessment of safety or efficacy of study treatment.
- History of severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction to any of the agents used in this study.
- Vaccine ≤ 6 weeks prior to planned start of conditioning regimen.
- In the investigator's judgment, the subject is unlikely to complete all protocol-required study visits or procedures, including follow-up visits, or comply with the study requirements for participation.