A Phase 1 interventional study of CD4CAR in T-cell Lymphoma and T-cell Leukemia, sponsored by Huda Salman. Recruiting at 6 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 12 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-24.
Sponsored by Huda Salman · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
This study is designed as a single arm open label Phase I, 3x3, multicenter study of CD4-directed chimeric antigen receptor engineered T-cells (CD4CAR) in patients with relapsed or refractory T-cell leukemia and lymphoma. Specifically, the study will evaluate the safety and feasibility of CD4CAR T-cells. Funding Source - FDA OOPD
The study will be performed as a dose-escalation protocol. Due to the relatively low incidence and prevalence of cluster of differentiation 4-positive (CD4+) hematological malignancies and the associated aggressive nature of these diseases and the sequel of treatment failure, the investigators expect to recruit 20 subjects at Stony Brook, Indiana University, and other identified sites with an expected dropout rate of 25% primarily due to rapid progression or death and screen and or manufacturing failure. Taking this into account, the investigators expect to treat 15 patients. The study will utilize autologous CD4CAR T-cells that are engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD4 that is linked to the cluster of differentiation 28 (CD28), 4-1BB, cluster of differentiation 3-zeta (CD3ζ) signaling chains (third generation CAR).
At entry, disease status will be staged and investigators will determine if the subject has adequate T cell number for apheresis and for manufacturing CD4CAR cells. Qualifying subjects will be leukapheresed to obtain large numbers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for the manufacturing. Next, participants will receive conditioning chemotherapy. If tumor burden is sufficiently reduced (screening step), participants will receive CD4CAR cells by infusion on Day 0 of treatment.
For cell harvest, 12-15-liter apheresis procedure will be performed at the apheresis center with the intention to harvest at least 50x10\^9-nucleated cells to manufacture CD4CAR T-cells. A portion of the pheresed cells will also be cryopreserved for FDA look-back requirements and for further research. The T-cells will be purified from the PBMC, transduced with CD4CAR lentiviral vector, expanded in vitro, and then frozen for administration. Each dose will be stored in either one or two bags. The route of administration is by IV infusion and the duration of infusion will be approximately 20 minutes. Each bag will contain an aliquot (30-50 mL) of liquid suitable for freezing, and containing the following infusible grade reagents (% v/v): 4.5% human serum albumin with 10% DMSO. The cell product is expected to be ready for release approximately 3-4 weeks after apheresis.
If the disease progresses during the manufacturing period participants may be excluded from the study. Minimal chemotherapy to keep the disease under control in the meanwhile is allowed if deemed necessary by investigators.
A single dose of CD4CAR transduced T cells will consist of the cell number for the dose level to be infused.
Post-infusion monitoring of CD4CAR T-cells: Subjects will have blood drawn for cytokine levels, CD4CAR Transgene Copy Number (PCR) and flow cytometry in order to evaluate the presence of CD4CAR cells on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28, and 42 following infusion (or as clinically needed). Cytokines levels will be evaluated per schedule above in addition to and as needed every 8 +/- 2 hours as feasible if/when CRS occurs and until resolution. Active monitoring of fungal and viral infections during treatment while utilizing standard prophylaxis recommended for HIV-positive patients with T-cell aplasia and those undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant. Investigators plan to collect data about clinicoradiologic measurements of residual tumor burden starting on day 6 and weekly afterward until day 42 and then monthly for 6 months. This will be followed by quarterly clinical evaluations for the next two (2) years with a medical history, physical examination, and comprehensive blood testing. After these short- and intermediate-term evaluations are performed, these patients will enter a rollover study to assess for disease-free survival (DFS), relapse, and the development of other health problems or malignancies where follow-up will be up tp twice a year by phone and a questionnaire for an additional thirteen (13) years. The treating physician will decide to proceed with allogeneic or autologous transplant when needed.
Dose of CD4CAR description: the main objective of this study is to establish a recommended dose and/or schedule of CD4CAR. The guiding principle for dose escalation in phase I is to avoid unnecessary exposure of patients to sub-therapeutic doses (i.e., to treat as many patients as possible within the therapeutic dose range) while preserving safety and maintaining rapid accrual. Investigators will use the rule-based traditional Phase I "3+3" design for the evaluation of safety. Based on lab experience in mice the starting dose (dose level 1) for the first cohort of three patients in phase I portion of the study will be 8x10\^5 cells. The dose escalation or de-escalation will follow a modified Fibonacci sequence as below.
If more than one patient out of the first cohort of three patients in dose level 1 experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT), the trial will be placed on hold. If zero or one out of three patients in the first cohort of dose level 1 experience DLT, three more patients will be enrolled at dose level 1; the dose escalation continues until at least two patients among a cohort of six patients experience DLT (i.e., ≥33% of patients with a DLT at this dose level)
In summary, the dose escalation continues until at least two patients among a cohort of six patients experience DLT (i.e., ≥33% of patients with a DLT at that dose level). The recommended dose for phase II trials is defined as one dose level below this toxic dose level. Since some grade 3 and possibly 4 toxicities are highly likely to be reversible, grade 3 infectious, hematological and vascular toxicities will not be considered DLTs mandating dose reduction. Also allergic or infusion-related reactions ≤ grade 3 will not be counted as DLTs. There will be no intra-patient dose escalation or reduction.
To allow for full spectrum toxicity duration evaluation and reporting, no patients within the same or a different cohort will be initiated on lymphodepleting chemotherapy sooner than 42 days from the initiation date of the preceding patient.
Inclusion Criteria
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual will be enrolled if they meet the following criteria:
Exclusion Criteria
Active hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection. Active hepatitis C is defined as the hepatitis C antibody is positive while quantitative HCV RNA results exceed the lower detection limit.
Note the following subjects will be eligible:
Concurrent use of systemic glucocorticoids in greater than replacement doses (unless as a part of a standard of care salvage therapy or conditioning protocol), or steroid dependency defined in rheumatological and pulmonary diseases as uninterrupted corticosteroid intake for more than a year at a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg/day or greater, and where the underlying disease worsens on temporary stoppage of steroid therapy, with symptoms of steroids withdrawal (eg, lethargy, headache, weakness, pseudorheumatism, emotional disturbances, etc) precipitated by the temporary stoppage.
Subjects who receive daily corticosteroids in replacement doses can be included in the study. The replacement doses are defined as following:
Eligibility for Conditioning Chemotherapy
Eligibility for CD4CAR infusion:
Inclusion
Exclusion
Note: A subject may still receive the CD4CAR infusion up to 10 days post conditioning chemotherapy as long as they do not meet any of the following at time of infusion:
Contraception and Reproductive Potential Guidelines Female subjects of reproductive potential (women who have reached menarche or women who have not been post-menopausal for at least 24 consecutive months, i.e., who have had menses within the preceding 24 months, or have not undergone a sterilization procedure [hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy]) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to conditioning chemotherapy.
Due to the high-risk level of this study, while enrolled, all subjects must agree not to participate in a conception process (e.g., active attempt to become pregnant or to impregnate, sperm donation, in vitro fertilization). Additionally, if participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy, the study subject must agree to use reliable and double barrier methods of contraception from time of consent through at least 90 days after CD4CAR infusion.
Acceptable birth control includes a combination of two of the following methods:
Written or oral documentation communicated by clinician or clinician's staff of one of the following:
Redirected autologous T cells transduced with the anti-CD4 lentiviral vector (referred to as "CD4CAR" cells)
Biological: CD4CAR
CD4CAR cells transduced with a lentiviral vector to express the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) nucleotide sequence of the anti-CD4 molecule derived from humanized monoclonal ibalizumab and the intracellular domains of CD28 and 4-1BB co-activators fused to the CD3ζ T-cell activation signaling domain administered by IV infusions as a single dose
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v5.0
To assess the safety and feasibility of the chimeric antigen receptor T cells transduced with the anti-CD4 lentiviral vector (referred to as "CD4CAR" cells) according to CTCAE grading. The feasibility of treating those adverse events and their duration till resolution will also be described.
Time frame: 18-24 months
Duration of in vivo survival of the CD4CAR.
Persistence of CD4CAR will be monitored by measuring the CD4CAR transgene copy number at variable time points.
Time frame: 18-24 months
Rate of manufacturing failure
The number of failed manufacturing attempts of CD4 CAR, per subject and overall, in this patient population. Manufacturing failure is defined as failure to manufacture the adequate CD4CAR cell dose for the particular cohort the patient is enrolled on. Three manufacturing attempts per patient are allowed.
Time frame: 18-24 months
Clinical Response
Clinical response to T-cell infusion will be evaluated by comparing disease before and after infusion identified by: * standard imaging (PET CT or PET MRI) for lymphoma patients * bone marrow biopsy for leukemia patients * peripheral blood cells morphology, flow cytometry panel, immunohistochemistry, and other blood molecular markers for both lymphoma and leukemia.
Time frame: 18-24 months
Trafficking of CD4CAR at tumor sites and at sites with significant toxicity
Quantification of both of CD4CAR by research flow cytometry and transgene copy number by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) will be measured at tumor sites in bone marrow and lymph nodes at variable time points if applicable. Same tests will be done on biopsies of organs that shows significant toxicity if need be.
Time frame: 18-24 months
Number of participants with immune reactions against CD4CAR
The absolute and relative number of subjects who develop immune reactions against the treatment over a period of 2 years. Human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) ELISA tests will be carried out in the blood of participants at multiple times after initial treatment.
Time frame: 18-24 months
Serum cytokines levels
Serum cytokine levels will be evaluated on Day 2, 4, 7, 11, 14, 21, 28 in addition to planned monitoring during CRS approx. every 8 hours and until resolution. These cytokines include interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor, IL-2, IL-2-receptor-a, IL-8, and IL-10
Time frame: 18-24 months
Determine CD4CAR cell subsets during proliferation
Participants' blood will be tested by research flow cytometry to determine the relative abundance of cellular subsets that may result from CD4CAR T cells upon their proliferation. These subsets include Tcm, Tem, and Tregs, when feasible.
Time frame: 18-24 months
Overall survival and causes of death
Descriptive reporting on subjects survival duration post CAR infusion, and if they die, what is the cause of death
Time frame: throuh study completion (i.e.up to 15 years)
New onset malignancies post CD4CAR treatment
Descriptive reporting of any other cancers that may be diagnosed after enrollment in the trial
Time frame: throuh study completion (i.e.up to 15 years)
Plan to share: No
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