CAR T-cell Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

(ACIT001/EXC002 Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+5 other locations

Overseen by Michael Chu, MD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2

Recruiting

Sponsor: University of Alberta

Must not be taking: Corticosteroids, others

Disqualifiers: CNS involvement, HIV, Hepatitis, others

No Placebo Group

Approved in 7 Jurisdictions

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial involves using a patient's own immune cells, which are modified in a lab to better recognize and attack cancer cells. The target group is patients with certain types of cancers. The modified cells are reintroduced into the patient to help their immune system fight the cancer more effectively. This approach has shown promising results in treating these cancers.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot have received any investigational drug or anti-cancer therapy within 30 days, and you must not be on therapeutic doses of corticosteroids within 7 days prior to blood collection for CAR T-cell product manufacture.

What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

Research shows that CAR T-cell therapy, specifically using tisagenlecleucel, has been highly effective in treating children and young adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, leading to high rates of complete remission. This treatment has been approved by the FDA due to its success in clinical trials. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is CAR T-cell therapy safe for humans?

CAR T-cell therapy, including treatments like Tisagenlecleucel and Axicabtagene ciloleucel, has been associated with serious but mostly reversible side effects in humans, such as cytokine release syndrome (a severe immune reaction) and neurotoxicity (nerve damage). These treatments are approved for certain types of leukemia and lymphoma, and patients need to be closely monitored for these side effects. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

What makes CAR T-cell therapy unique for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

CAR T-cell therapy is unique because it uses the patient's own immune cells, which are genetically modified to target and destroy cancer cells, offering a promising option for those with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia who do not respond to standard treatments. ^{1 4 5 9 10}

Research Team

Michael Chu, MD

Principal Investigator

Cross Cancer Institute

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people aged 2-70 with CD19+ non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or ALL who've had at least two prior treatments and aren't eligible for curative therapies. They must have a measurable lesion, adequate organ function, and agree to use effective contraception. Exclusions include unresolved toxicities from past treatments, uncontrolled illnesses, recent major surgery, certain infections like HIV or hepatitis B/C, recent vaccinations, pregnancy/breastfeeding, some prior immunotherapies or gene therapies.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a man who can father a child and agree to use birth control during and for 3 months after the study.

I have a measurable tumor or signs of cancer in my blood or bone marrow.

I am between 2 and 70 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I haven't taken high doses of steroids (more than 20 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) in the last 7 days.

Received any investigational drug/anti-cancer therapy within 30 days.

My cancer has spread to my brain or spinal cord.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy

Participants receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine on Days -5, -4, and -3

1 week

CAR T-cell Administration

Participants receive a single dose of CAR T-cells intravenously on Day 0

1 day

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after CAR T-cell administration

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• autologous CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells (CAR T-cell Therapy)

Trial Overview The trial tests autologous CAR T-cells targeting CD19 on cancer cells in patients with aggressive lymphoma or ALL. These T-cells are modified outside the body using a lentiviral vector to recognize and attack cancer cells before being reintroduced into the patient.

Participant Groups

Group I: CAR T cells Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell ALL or NHL.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alberta

Lead Sponsor

Trials

957

Recruited

437,000+

Bill Flanagan

University of Alberta

Chief Executive Officer since 2020

LLB from University of Toronto, LLM from Columbia University

Dr. Verna Yiu

University of Alberta

Chief Medical Officer since 2012

MD from University of Alberta, Fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology at Harvard University

Canadian Cancer Trials Group

Collaborator

Trials

135

Recruited

70,300+

Dr. Janet Dancey

Canadian Cancer Trials Group

Chief Medical Officer since 2014

MD, FRCPC

Susan Marlin

Canadian Cancer Trials Group

Chief Executive Officer since 2012

BSc (Hons) from Dalhousie University, MSc in Community Health and Epidemiology from Queen’s University

Alberta Cancer Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

18

Recruited

5,600+

Findings from Research

In a study of 79 pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, those who responded to the CAR T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel showed approximately double the expansion of the therapy in their blood compared to nonresponders, indicating a strong correlation between cellular expansion and treatment efficacy.

The therapy demonstrated persistence in responders for over two years, and its expansion continued even after treatment with tocilizumab, which is used to manage cytokine release syndrome, suggesting that tisagenlecleucel can remain effective despite potential side effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical Pharmacology of Tisagenlecleucel in B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Mueller, KT., Waldron, E., Grupp, SA., et al.[2020]

CAR T cell therapy, particularly with the FDA-approved product tisagenlecleucel, has shown significant response rates in treating relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in patients under 26 years old.

Despite its effectiveness, challenges such as high relapse rates, potential toxicities, and logistical issues in the therapy's production and administration remain significant barriers to its widespread application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical experience of CAR T cells for B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Fabrizio, VA., Curran, KJ.[2022]

Tisagenlecleucel is the first FDA-approved CD19-targeted CAR T cell therapy specifically for pediatric patients with pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), showing excellent responses in a multicenter phase II trial for those with highly refractory disease.

While CAR T cell therapy can lead to durable remissions in many patients, close monitoring for unique toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity is essential after treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CD19 CAR T Cells for the Treatment of Pediatric Pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Pacenta, HL., Laetsch, TW., John, S.[2020]

Tisagenlecleucel, a CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory B-ALL, showed an 85% complete response rate in infused patients and a 12-month overall survival rate of 72%, indicating its efficacy in treating this condition.

Patients with a high disease burden before treatment had significantly worse outcomes and higher rates of severe side effects, highlighting the importance of disease status in predicting treatment success and safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Disease Burden Affects Outcomes in Pediatric and Young Adult B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia After Commercial Tisagenlecleucel: A Pediatric Real-World Chimeric Antigen Receptor Consortium Report. Schultz, LM., Baggott, C., Prabhu, S., et al.[2023]

Two CAR T cell therapies, Tisagenlecleucel and Axicabtagene ciloleucel, have been approved for treating specific types of blood cancers, including B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and large B-cell lymphoma, in patients who have not responded to other treatments.

This review emphasizes the importance of recognizing and managing the toxicities associated with CAR T cell therapies, while also suggesting future strategies to reduce these side effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CAR T Cell Toxicity: Current Management and Future Directions. Yáñez, L., Sánchez-Escamilla, M., Perales, MA.[2020]

CAR T cell therapy, specifically with tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel, has been authorized in Europe for treating certain types of blood cancers, showing efficacy in relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The recommendations provided focus on managing medium-term complications like cytopenias and B-cell aplasia, emphasizing the importance of supportive care for patients undergoing this innovative treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Medium-term follow-up of patients treated with chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T cells): Recommendations of the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC)]. Alsuliman, T., Drieu La Rochelle, L., Campidelli, A., et al.[2022]

The study found that high levels of leukemia blast contamination in the starting material did not negatively impact the manufacturing of CAR T-cells or their ability to expand, suggesting that CAR T-cell therapy can be safely produced even from contaminated samples.

Using a specific CAR design with a short linker (CAR.CD19 SL) enhances the ability of CAR T-cells to target and kill CD19+ leukemia cells, providing a potential safety advantage in preventing leukemic relapse.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Strategy to prevent epitope masking in CAR.CD19+ B-cell leukemia blasts. Quintarelli, C., Guercio, M., Manni, S., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tisagenlecleucel in Children and Young Adults with B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical Pharmacology of Tisagenlecleucel in B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. [2020]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T cells in B-cell leukemia and lymphoma: current status and perspectives. [2022]

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical experience of CAR T cells for B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [2022]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CD19 CAR T Cells for the Treatment of Pediatric Pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. [2020]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Disease Burden Affects Outcomes in Pediatric and Young Adult B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia After Commercial Tisagenlecleucel: A Pediatric Real-World Chimeric Antigen Receptor Consortium Report. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CAR T Cell Toxicity: Current Management and Future Directions. [2020]

8. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Medium-term follow-up of patients treated with chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T cells): Recommendations of the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC)]. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tisagenlecleucel-T for the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia. [2019]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Strategy to prevent epitope masking in CAR.CD19+ B-cell leukemia blasts. [2022]