NK Cells Plus ICI for SCLC Maintenance

NCT07759856 | Recruiting Phase 2 DMC

• 1 other identifier: XYZ-NK-SCLC-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research study is designed for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who have already received four cycles of standard chemotherapy, with at least two cycles combined with immunotherapy, and have achieved disease control (stable disease, partial response, or complete response) at their last efficacy evaluation. In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A will receive standard immunotherapy plus 1 to 3 courses of allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy. Each course consists of six NK cell infusions given over 28 days. Group B will receive standard immunotherapy alone. All participants will continue treatment until their disease progresses or they experience unacceptable side effects. The immunotherapy agents used in this study are those recommended by major international and national clinical guidelines for extensive-stage SCLC, including but not limited to durvalumab, atezolizumab, serplulimab, and adebrelimab. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether adding NK cell therapy to standard immunotherapy can provide additional benefits for patients with extensive-stage SCLC who have responded well to initial treatment.

Conditions

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Keywords

Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer; Immunotherapy; Allogeneic NK Cells; Natural Killer Cells; Maintenance Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Progression free survival

  Every 6 weeks from randomization until disease progression or death, up to approximately 24 months

• Duration of Overall Response

  From first documented response to disease progression, assessed every 6 weeks up to 24 months

• Incidence and Severity of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs)

  From first dose through 30 days after last dose, up to approximately 24 months

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• overall survival

  From randomization to death from any cause, assessed up to 24 months

• Change from baseline in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, total CD3+, CD3-CD19+, and CD3-CD16+CD56+ cells) at Day 90

  Baseline and Day 90

• Change from baseline in serum cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-β, and IFN-γ) at Day 90

  Baseline and Day 90

• Change from baseline in serum tumor markers (SCC) at Day 90

  Baseline and Day 90

• Change from baseline in peripheral blood NK cell activity at Day 90

  Baseline and Day 90

Study Arms (2)

ICI + Allogeneic NK Cells

EXPERIMENTAL

Biological: Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells; Drug: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor

ICI Alone

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Drug: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor

Interventions

Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells BIOLOGICAL

Allogeneic NK cells derived from healthy donors, expanded and activated ex vivo. One course consists of two cycles with 6 IV infusions over 28 days: Days 12, 13, 14 (Cycle 1) and Days 26, 27, 28 (Cycle 2). Patients receive 1-3 courses.

ICI + Allogeneic NK Cells

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor DRUG

Immune checkpoint inhibitors recommended for extensive-stage SCLC by NCCN, ESMO, and CSCO guidelines, including but not limited to durvalumab, atezolizumab, serplulimab, adebrelimab, and toripalimab. Administered as IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle.

ICI + Allogeneic NK Cells; ICI Alone

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• : Male or female, aged 18 years or above
• : ECOG score 0-2
• : metastatic or extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) confirmed by histology or cytology, followed by 4 cycles of platinum-based doublet-chemotherapy with at least 2 cycles of immune checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy. And stable disease (SD), partial response (PR), or complete response (CR) as assessed by imaging (RECIST1.1 criteria) after the last treatment. (The checkpoint inhibitors used were those recommended by the NCCN, ESMO, and CSCO guidelines for extensivestage SCLC, including but not limited to: Duvalumab, atezolizumab, slulizumab, adbelimumab, toripalimab, etc.)
• : At least 4 weeks after major surgery or trauma, and the wound must be completely healed; At least 1 week after minor surgical procedures or trauma (e.g., tissue biopsy or fine-needle aspiration);
• : Objective measurable lesions according to RECIST 1.1 criteria;
• : predicted survival time ≥1 year;
• : bone marrow function: ANC≥1.5×109/L, HB≥70 g/L (blood transfusion allowed), PLT≥80×109/L;
• : Liver function: ALT≤3×ULN, AST≤3×ULN, TBIL≤2×ULN (patients with liver metastasis ALT≤5×ULN, AST≤5×ULN, TBIL≤2×ULN) Child-Pugh score ≤7; Renal function: uric acid \<500 μmol/L, serum creatinine \<1.7 mg/dL, proteinuria ≤2+ or ≤2g/24h, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥60 ml/min/1.73m2;
• : no history of autoimmune diseases or current autoimmune diseases;
• : The subjects voluntarily participated in the study, signed the informed consent form, communicated well with the investigators, and completed the study in accordance with the protocol.

You may not qualify if:

• :Participate in other clinical trials or use other research drugs or equipment within 4 weeks of the first treatment.
• : During the screening period and previous imaging evaluation, active or untreated CNS metastasis was found by CT scanning or MRI. Patients with asymptomatic CNS metastasis who had been treated in the past can participate in this study as long as they meet all the following criteria: corticosteroids are not needed to treat CNS diseases, and imaging examination has not found any progress from the end of CNS directional treatment to the screening period。 If new asymptomatic CNS metastases are found in patients during the screening period, they must undergo radiotherapy and/or CNS metastasis surgery
• : The effusion in the third space with clinical symptoms needs repeated drainage (for example, less than once every four weeks), such as pericardial effusion, pleural effusion and peritoneal effusion that are still uncontrollable after pumping or other treatments
• : Live vaccine was inoculated within 30 days before the first administration of the study drug. Live vaccines include but are not limited to measles, mumps, minute needle, chickenpox/herpes zoster, rabies, BCG, typhoid vaccine, etc. Seasonal influenza vaccine for injection is generally inactivated virus vaccine, which is allowed to be used.
• : The patient is known to have other malignant tumors, which are progressing or need active treatment in the past 3 years (except for in situ cancer or localized prostate cancer supplemented by PSA test)
• : Received major surgery, open surgical biopsy or severe traumatic injury 28 days before joining the group.
• : Clinically related or preexisting interstitial lung disease
• : Severe unhealed wound, ulcer or fracture
• : Suffering from autoimmune diseases requiring systemic treatment in the past 2 years
• : Unstable systemic concomitant diseases (active infection, moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, poorly controlled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary embolism or untreated history of Grade 3 deep vein thrombosis (DVT) within 6 months, serious mental disorder requiring drug control, liver, kidney or other metabolic diseases, neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease).
• : According to the judgment of the researcher, there are patients with accompanying diseases that seriously endanger the safety of patients or affect the completion of the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tianjin First Central Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Tianjin First Central Hospital

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300192, China

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Interventions

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Pharmacologic Actions; Chemical Actions and Uses; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Antineoplastic Agents; Therapeutic Uses

Central Study Contacts

Gang Zhi Zhao

CONTACT

+8615302131398; xushan1012@tmu.edu.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Chief Physician, Department of Medical Oncology

Model Details: Patients receive immune checkpoint inhibitor plus 1-3 courses of allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy. Each course consists of 6 NK cell infusions over 28 days, combined with standard ICI on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 2, 2026
• First Posted: August 12, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2029
• Last Updated: August 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

CN (1)