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Antigen-specific Cytotoxic T Cells in the Treatment of Opportunistic Infections

Phase I/II Multicenter Trial of Antigen-specific Cytotoxic T Cells in the Treatment of Opportunistic Infections

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03159364
Enrollment
100
Registered
2017-05-18
Start date
2026-06-01
Completion date
2026-07-31
Last updated
2026-08-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Adenovirus Infection, BKV Infection, CMV Infection, EBV Infection, Fungus Infection, Pathogen Infection, Tuberculosis

Keywords

CTL, Virus CTL, Fungus CTL, TB CTL

Brief summary

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) or Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection results in significant morbidity and mortality in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients. HSCT patients often face opportunistic infections due to the immunosuppressive state during transplantation. Antimicrobial drugs are usually used for prophylactic purposes and for treatment after early detectable infections. Unfortunately, some patients develop resistance to such drug treatment. In addition to HSCT patient, immune compromised patient may also be victim to opportunistic infections. Many infections can be effectively managed by functional immune recovery. In this study, the safety and efficacy of microbial-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) will be investigated.

Detailed description

Background: Opportunistic infections are major causes of transplant-related morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients, especially in the early post-transplant period. CMV, EBV, adenovirus (AdV), BK virus (BKV) and other viruses or non-viral pathogens may lead to life-threatening infections after transplantation. Adoptive immunotherapy with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) reactive with specific microbial antigens has proven to be effective without stimulating acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) owing to the significantly reduced nonspecific alloreactivity. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treating opportunistic infections with microbial-specific CTLs in immune compromised patients. Objective: Primary study objectives: Infusion of autologous or allogenic pathogen-specific CTL to patients by I.V., to evaluate the safety. Secondary study objectives: To evaluate the anti-microbial efficacy of IV-infused autologous or allogenic pathogen-specific CTLs. Design: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be obtained through apheresis. T cells from PBMC will be activated and enriched by dendritic cells with pathogen specific antigens. Cell preparation time is approximately 12-17 days. Subject will receive infusions of 1x105\ 1x106 cells/kg body weight of CTLs via IV infusion. Patients are followed weekly for one month after the infusion, monthly for 3 months, and then every 3 months until the trial ends.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALpathogen-specific CTLs

Patients will receive approximately 1x10\^5\~1x10\^6 CTLs/kg as a single infusion via IV injection and may receive additional infusions.

Sponsors

Shenzhen Geno-Immune Medical Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Months to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Subjects with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / organ transplant recipients need to meet the following conditions: * Evidence of CMV, EBV, ADV, BKV or known pathogen infection (viral DNA, immunohistochemical cytology positive); contraindications or invalid to anti-microbial drugs. * Subjects with virus DNA increased in the 2 consecutive peripheral blood samples (≥ 1000 genomic copies/ml blood) at least 24 hours apart. * Initial hematopoietic reconstitution: neutrophils (ANC) ≥ 0.5x109 / L, platelet (PLT) ≥ 20x109 / L. * Patients with pahogen disease (organ/ tissue infiltration) symptoms, fever, diarrhea, or lymphadenopathy, regardless of the level of peripheral blood virus DNA, and confirmed by the presence of viral DNA or microbial antigens within body fluid or biopsy. * The subject / guardian has signed a written consent form before any trial begins. Proper renal and hepatic functions (ULN denotes "upper limit of normal range"): * Creatinine ≤ 2\*ULN. * Bilirubin ≤ 2\*ULN. * SGOT ≤ 3\*ULN. * SGPT≤ 3\*ULN. If CTL is not from the patient's own, then the provider of CTLs needs to meet the following criteria: * Did not receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks prior to blood collection, and did not take any steroids for the previous week, did not use Penicillin or β-lactam antibiotics, or the lowest dose of other antibiotics. * White blood cells ≥ 3,500 / μl, lymphocytes ≥ 750 / μl. * Obtain a signed informed consent from the patient and / or the guardian or the donor of the BMT recipient. * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) or tuberculosis (TB) test is negative. * Physical examination in line with the standard of healthy blood donors.

Exclusion criteria

* Subject infected with HCV (HCV antibody positive), HBV (HBsAg positive), HIV (HIV antibody positive), or HTLV (HTLV antibody positive). * GVHD (graft-versus-host disease) performance score at II-IV. * Subject is albumin-intolerant. * Subject with life expectancy less than 4 weeks. * Subject participated in other investigational somatic cell therapies within past 30 days. * Subject with positive pregnancy test result.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Using CTCAE 4 standard to evaluate the level of adverse events after receiving autologous or allogenic pathogen-specific CTL infusion24 weeksto evaluate the level of adverse events with CTCAE 4
Viral load change after Virus-CTL infusion2 monthsThe viral load response to the Virus-CTL infusion will be assessed by specific PCR of peripheral blood after infusion.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
The incidence of CTL infusion syndrome mimicking grade Ⅱ~Ⅳ GVHD within 30 days after the last dose of CTL infusion1 months
Reconstitution of anti-microbial immunity monitored by flow cytometry6 months
Number of patients with chronic GVHD-like symptom6 months

Countries

China

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORLung-Ji Chang, PhD

Shenzhen Geno-Immune Medical Institute

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 25, 2026