Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Universal Donor CD33 CAR Natural Killer Cells for AML

NCT07026942 | Not Yet Recruiting Phase 1 DMC FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: CD33 CAR NK
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This phase 1/2 study is testing a new treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has come back or has not responded to other treatments. The treatment uses specially modified immune cells (called CD33 CAR-NK cells) from a healthy, unrelated donor to attack the cancer. The first part of the study (Phase I) will focus on finding the safest and most effective dose. The second part (Phase II) will test how well the treatment works at that dose. Patients will undergo screening, chemotherapy (Fludarabine and Cytarabine, in combination with Venetoclax) followed by the infusion of the CD33 CAR NK cells. Some patients may receive 2 doses of CD33 CAR NK cells infused 1 week apart. The investigator will let participants know if they will receive 1 or 2 doses. Patients will be hospitalized for the chemotherapy and CD33 CAR NK cell infusion for close monitoring and will remain in the hospital until blood counts recover. If patients are discharged from the hospital before day 35, they will be followed in clinic weekly for blood work and a physical exam. A bone marrow biopsy will be performed around day 28-35 to see if the patient's leukemia is in remission. Lumbar puncture or imaging may also be done if the study doctor thinks it is necessary. Patients will continue to be followed for research studies and clinical outcomes (leukemia relapse, survival) for 1 year. After 1 year, patients will have completed their study participation, but can be monitored for up to 15 years for potential long term side effects of the cell therapy. Some patients may undergo a bone marrow transplant after the study treatment. Patients who proceed to bone marrow transplant will have one blood sample drawn about a month after the transplant and then will have completed study participation.

Conditions

Relapsed/Refractory AML

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Phase I : Safety and recommended phase 2 dose

  To determine the safety and recommended phase 2 dose of CD33 CAR-NK cells in patients with relapsed/refractory AML investigators will monitor the incidence and severity of adverse events and the rate of dose limiting toxicities.

  From the first CD33 CAR NK cell infusion until 28 days after the last CAR NK cell dose.

• Phase II: Efficacy of CD33 CAR NK cells

  To estimate the efficacy of CD33 CAR-NK cells delivered at the RP2D with FLA-VEN chemotherapy, the investigators will determine the complete response rate.

  Day 35

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Overall survival, event free survival and duration of remission

  1 year

• Depth of remission

  Day 35

• Events of special interest

  8 weeks post CAR NK, day +30 post HSCT

• Neutrophil recovery

  1 year

Study Arms (1)

CD33 CAR NK Cells

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients will undergo 5 days of lymphodepleting chemotherapy (Fludarabine and Cytarabine) along with oral Venetoclax given from days 1-21 of the cycle. CD33 CAR NK cells will be infused on day 7 (and day 14 for dose level 4). Dose Levels * Dose level 1: 1 x 10\^7 CD33 CAR-NK cells/kg * Dose level 2: 3 x 10\^7 CD33 CAR-NK cells/kg * Dose level 3: 1 x 10\^8 CD33 CAR-NK cells/kg * Dose level 4: 2 doses of 1 x 10\^8 CD33 CAR-NK cells/kg

Biological: Universal donor derived CD33 CAR-NK

Interventions

Universal donor derived CD33 CAR-NK BIOLOGICAL

Universal donor derived CD38KO CD33 CAR-NK manuctured on-site. The NK cells are derived from the peripheral blood of universal donors with desirable HLA/KIR types and CMV status, modified by CRISPR/Cas9 targeting the CD38 locus, using AAV6 vector to insert a CD33-targeted CAR gene into the CD38 locus, and expanded in number.

CD33 CAR NK Cells

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 1 Year - 39 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients with relapsed or primary refractory CD33+ AML, including:
• Patients with relapsed AML (patients in second or subsequent relapse, or any relapse after HSCT, are eligible).
• Refractory AML defined as failure to achieve a complete response after 2 cycles of induction or reinduction chemotherapy, including persistent MRD positivity.
• Patients with isolated CNS or extramedullary disease are eligible. Patients with CNS disease are excluded from the phase I dose escalation portion but are eligible for the phase II portion of the study.
• years of age (note: the first three subjects treated AND the first subject on each dose level must be ≥ 16 years of age)
• Negative serum test to rule out pregnancy within 14 days prior to enrollment in females of childbearing potential
• o Sexually active males and females of childbearing potential must agree to use a form of contraception considered effective and medically acceptable by the Investigator for 6 months after the last dose of chemotherapy and/or NK cell infusion
• Organ function requirements:
• Renal function: Creatinine ≤ 2 times the institutional upper limit of normal for age OR creatinine clearance \> 60 ml/min/1.73m2 (measured by 24 hour- urine specimen or radioisotope GFR)
• Liver function: Total bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dl (unless Gilbert's syndrome), AST and ALT ≤ 5 times the upper limit of normal (unless related to leukemic involvement). Upper limit of normal should be determined by the institutional defined normal laboratory range.
• Cardiac function: left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 40% or shortening fraction ≥20%. May be eligible after cardiology clearance if qualitatively normal function or repeat measures are normal.
• CNS: Patients with seizure disorder may be eligible if seizures are well controlled
• Pulmonary function: baseline oxygen saturation \>92% on room air at rest
• Due to the risk of hematopoietic toxicity from CD33 targeting, enrolled subjects must have an allogeneic HCT donor identified and be eligible and willing to undergo a subsequent HSCT in the event of aplasia.
• All patients or their legal guardian must be able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent document.

You may not qualify if:

• Prior therapies:
• AML directed therapies in the 14 days prior to beginning treatment on this protocol (except for hydroxyurea) Note: There is no waiting period required for patients having received intrathecal cytarabine, methotrexate and/or hydrocortisone
• Gemtuzumab or other CD33-targeted antibody within 42 days of enrollment
• CNS radiation within 28 days of enrollment
• DLI or adoptive cell therapy within 30 days of enrollment
• Allogeneic SCT within 90 days of enrollment
• Patients with CNS disease are excluded from the phase I portion of the study but are eligible for the phase II expansion phase.
• Patients on immunosuppressive therapy
• Patients must be off of systemic immunosuppressive therapy for at least 14 days prior to enrollment with no evidence of recurrent GVHD
• Patients on hydrocortisone for treatment of adrenal insufficiency are permitted on study
• Patients on corticosteroids ≤ 0.5mg/kg/day (prednisone equivalent) for any other indication are permitted on study
• Uncontrolled, symptomatic, intercurrent illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or in the opinion of the site PI would pose an unacceptable risk to the subject
• Patients who are breastfeeding
• Patients with prior solid organ transplantation
• Performance status: Karnofsky or Lansky Performance Scale (PS) \< 50

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nationwide Children's Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Columbus, Ohio, 43205, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Hematologic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases

Study Officials

• Margaret Lamb, MD

  Nationwide Children's Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Clelie Peck

CONTACT

614-722-5634; Clelie.Peck@nationwidechildrens.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Model Details: A single-arm, unblinded, dose escalation study

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2025
• First Posted: June 18, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2032
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2038
• Last Updated: November 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

US (1)