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Evaluation of CD19-Specific CAR Engineered Autologous T-Cells for Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory CD19+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

SJCAR19: A Phase I/II Study Evaluating SJCAR19 (CD19-Specific CAR Engineered Autologous T-Cells) in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients ≤ 21 Years of Age With Relapsed or Refractory CD19+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03573700
Enrollment
24
Registered
2018-06-29
Start date
2018-07-24
Completion date
2027-07-01
Last updated
2026-08-11

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

Conditions

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, in Relapse, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Refractory

Keywords

Leukemia, Leukemia, lymphoid, Leukemia, B-cell, Relapsed, Refractory, Pediatric, Chimeric antigen receptor, CAR, CAR T cell, Anti-CD19, CD19

Brief summary

SJCAR19 is a research study seeking to evaluate the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, a type of cellular therapy, for the treatment of pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD19+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). CAR therapy combines two of the body's basic disease fighters: antibodies and T Cells. For this type of therapy, peripheral (circulating) immune cells are collected and then undergo a manufacturing process to engineer them to more effectively kill cancer cells. The SJCAR19 product will be manufactured at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility. The main purpose of this study is to determine: 1. The largest dose of SJCAR19 that is safe to give, 2. How long SJCAR19 cells last in the body, 3. The side effects of SJCAR19, and 4. Whether or not treatment with SJCAR19 is effective in treating people with refractory or relapsed ALL.

Detailed description

SJCAR19 is a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the use of SJCAR19 (CD19- specific CAR engineered autologous T-cells) in pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients with relapsed/ refractory CD19+ ALL. Treatment will include a single treatment course, with most patients receiving a lymphodepleting chemotherapy preparative regimen of fludarabine/ cyclophosphamide, followed by a single infusion of SJCAR19. This protocol contains a 3-part consent process: 1) to proceed with autologous apheresis, 2) to proceed with manufacturing of the SJCAR19 product, and 3) to receive treatment with the SJCAR19 product (initially as Phase I, then proceeding to Phase II). The Phase I portion will evaluate the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of SJCAR19. The Phase II portion will evaluate the efficacy, and provide further safety evaluation, of SJCAR19 in an expansion cohort at the MTD determined in the Phase I portion of the study. Additionally, for both the Phase I/II portions of the study there are correlative studies evaluating the biology of this treatment as well assessments into patient/caregiver experiences with undergoing this treatment.

Interventions

DRUGCyclophosphamide

Given IV

DRUGFludarabine

Given IV

DRUGMesna

Given IV

DEVICECliniMACS

The mechanism of action of the CliniMACS Cell Selection System is based on magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). The CliniMACS device is a powerful tool for the isolation of many cell types from heterogeneous cell mixtures, (e.g. apheresis products). These can then be separated in a magnetic field using an immunomagnetic label specific for the cell type of interest.

BIOLOGICALCD19- specific CAR engineered autologous T-cells (SJCAR19 product)

Given IV

Sponsors

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 21 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

for Autologous Apheresis: * Age ≤ 21 years old * CD19+ ALL with any of the following: * Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) ≥ 1% at end of up-front induction therapy * Hypodiploid (\< 44 chromosomes or \< 0.95 DNA index) CD19+ ALL with detectable disease at the end of up-front induction therapy * Increase in disease burden any time after the completion of up-front induction therapy * Primary refractory disease despite at least 2 cycles of an intensive chemotherapy regimen designed to induce remission * Refractory disease despite salvage therapy * 1st or greater relapse * Estimated life expectancy of \> 12 weeks * Karnofsky or Lansky (age-dependent) performance score ≥ 50 * Patients with a history of prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation \[HCT\] must be clinically recovered from prior HCT therapy, have no evidence of active GVHD and have not received a donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) within the 28 days prior to apheresis * For females of child bearing age: * Not lactating with intent to breastfeed * Not pregnant with negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to enrollment

Exclusion criteria

for Autologous Apheresis: * Known primary immunodeficiency * History of HIV infection * Severe intercurrent bacterial, viral or fungal infection * History of hypersensitivity reactions to murine protein-containing products Eligibility Criteria for Manufacturing SJCAR19: * CD19+ ALL with any of the following: * Primary refractory disease despite at least 2 cycles of an intensive chemotherapy regimen designed to induce remission * Refractory disease despite salvage therapy * 2nd or greater relapse * Any relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation * 1st relapse if patient requires an allogeneic HCT as part of standard of care relapse therapy, but is found to be ineligible and/or unsuitable for HCT * Age: ≤ 21 years of age * Karnofsky or Lansky (age-dependent) performance score ≥ 50 * Estimated life expectancy of \> 12 weeks * Meets eligibility criteria to undergo autologous apheresis, or have previously undergone autologous apheresis Inclusion Criteria for Treatment with SJCAR19: * CD19+ ALL with any of the following: * Primary refractory disease despite at least 2 cycles of an intensive chemotherapy regimen designed to induce remission * Refractory disease despite salvage therapy * 2nd or greater relapse * Any relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation * 1st relapse if patient requires an allogeneic HCT as part of standard of care relapse therapy, but is found to be ineligible and/or unsuitable for HCT for any of the following reasons: * Patients that do not have an available allogeneic donor (defined as at least a 7/8 HLA-matched related/unrelated donor, 5/6 HLA-matched umbilical cord donor, or 3/6 HLA-matched haploidentical donor) * Patients with refractory leukemia, for which allogeneic transplant is known to be less effective in the B-ALL population, and * Patients who are unable to receive myeloablative total body irradiation (TBI), which is included in standard transplant regimens for patients with B - ALL. * Detectable disease * Age: ≤ 21 years of age * Estimated life expectancy of \> 8 weeks * Prior to planned SJCAR19 infusion, patients with a history of prior allogeneic HCT must be at least 3 months from HCT, have no evidence of active GVHD and have not received a donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) within the 28 days prior to planned infusion * Adequate cardiac function defined as left ventricular ejection fraction \> 40%, or shortening fraction ≥ 25% * EKG without evidence of clinically significant arrhythmia * Adequate renal function defined as creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥50 ml/min/1.73m2 (GFR ≥40 ml/min/1.73m2 if \< 2 years of age) * Adequate pulmonary function defined as forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥ 50% of predicted value; or pulse oximetry ≥ 92% on room air if patient is unable to perform pulmonary function testing * Karnofsky or Lansky (age-dependent) performance score ≥ 50 * Total Bilirubin ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal for age, except in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 5 times the upper limit of normal for age * Hemoglobin \> 8 g/dl (can be transfused) * Platelet count \> 20,000/μL (can be transfused) * Has recovered from all NCI CTAE grade III-IV, non-hematologic acute toxicities from prior therapy * For females of child bearing age: * Not lactating with intent to breastfeed * Not pregnant with negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to enrollment * If sexually active, agreement to use birth control until 6 months after T-cell infusion. Male partners should use a condom * Available SJCAR19 product with ≥ 15% expression of the CD19-CAR, and killing of CD19+ targets ≥ 20% in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay * Agreement to participate in long-term follow-up on protocol NCT00695279

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Maximum Tolerated Dose and Dose-limiting Toxicities4 weeks post-SJCAR19 infusionThe primary objectives for the Phase I study portion are to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and characterize the safety profile and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of treatment with SJCAR19 in pediatric and young adult patient's ≤ 21 years of age, with relapsed or refractory CD19+ ALL. The proportion of participants with dose limiting toxicities are reported.
Complete Response Rate4 weeks post-SJCAR19 infusionThe primary objective for the Phase II study portion is to evaluate the complete response (CR) rates of SJCAR19 in pediatric and young adult patient's ≤ 21 years of age, with relapsed or refractory CD19+ ALL.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAimee C. Talleur, MD

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Participant flow

Recruitment details

This study was posted on http://clinicaltrials.gov. Potential patients were referred from their primary clinical service at St. Jude or through the Physician Referral Office and/or local providers. Twenty-four patients have been enrolled and started treatment since the study opened in July 2018.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Dose Escalation Level 1 (N = 6)
Patients assigned to the first dose level of CD19 CAR T cells on the protocol dose escalation schema. Patients received lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by a single infusion of 1x10\^6 CAR+T cells /kg. Dose level changes were based on dose-limiting toxicities. See above 'Eligibility' for more details.
6
Dose Escalation Level 2 (MTD) (N=18)
Patients assigned to the second dose level of CD19 CAR T cells on the protocol dose escalation schema. Patients received lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by a single infusion of 3x10\^6 CAR+T cells /kg. Dose level changes were based on dose-limiting toxicities. See above 'Eligibility' for more details.
18
Total24

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicDose Escalation Level 2 (MTD) (N=18)TotalDose Escalation Level 1 (N = 6)
Age, Continuous4.06 years6.07 years11.2 years
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black
1 Participants2 Participants1 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
2 Participants2 Participants0 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
15 Participants20 Participants5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
10 Participants13 Participants3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants11 Participants3 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
3 / 69 / 1812 / 24
other
Total, other adverse events
6 / 618 / 1824 / 24
serious
Total, serious adverse events
2 / 67 / 189 / 24

Outcome results

Primary

Complete Response Rate

The primary objective for the Phase II study portion is to evaluate the complete response (CR) rates of SJCAR19 in pediatric and young adult patient's ≤ 21 years of age, with relapsed or refractory CD19+ ALL.

Time frame: 4 weeks post-SJCAR19 infusion

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Overall (N = 24)Complete Response RateResponse: Number of participants with Complete Response (MRD-positive or negative) status20 Participants
Overall (N = 24)Complete Response RateResponse: Number of patients with NR (No Response)4 Participants
Dose Escalation Level 1 (N = 6)Complete Response RateResponse: Number of participants with Complete Response (MRD-positive or negative) status15 Participants
Dose Escalation Level 1 (N = 6)Complete Response RateResponse: Number of patients with NR (No Response)3 Participants
Dose Escalation Level 2 (MTD) (N=18)Complete Response RateResponse: Number of participants with Complete Response (MRD-positive or negative) status5 Participants
Dose Escalation Level 2 (MTD) (N=18)Complete Response RateResponse: Number of patients with NR (No Response)1 Participants
Primary

Maximum Tolerated Dose and Dose-limiting Toxicities

The primary objectives for the Phase I study portion are to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and characterize the safety profile and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of treatment with SJCAR19 in pediatric and young adult patient's ≤ 21 years of age, with relapsed or refractory CD19+ ALL. The proportion of participants with dose limiting toxicities are reported.

Time frame: 4 weeks post-SJCAR19 infusion

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Overall (N = 24)Maximum Tolerated Dose and Dose-limiting Toxicities2 Participants
Dose Escalation Level 1 (N = 6)Maximum Tolerated Dose and Dose-limiting Toxicities1 Participants
Dose Escalation Level 2 (MTD) (N=18)Maximum Tolerated Dose and Dose-limiting Toxicities1 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 12, 2026