A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Universal donor derived CD33 CAR-NK in Relapsed/Refractory AML, sponsored by Nationwide Children's Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 1 Year to 39 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-12.
Sponsored by Nationwide Children's Hospital · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
This is a phase I/II study designed to determine the safety and estimate the efficacy of CD33 CAR-NK cells combined with FLA-VEN chemotherapy in patients age 1-39.99 with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. This study will be performed in two phases: a dose-finding phase and a phase II expansion phase to further study safety and estimate efficacy. To determine the recommended phase II dose investigators will utilize a Bayesian optimal interval (BOIN) dose escalation design. Once a RP2D is established, a phase II expansion cohort of 24 total patients will be enrolled to evaluate efficacy and correlative data while also continually gathering data on safety and toxicity.
Manufacturing of the CD33 CAR NK Cells:
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.
Dose Levels
Chemotherapy:
Days 1-5: Fludarabine 30 mg/m2/d, cytarabine 2g/m2/d Days 1-21: Venetoclax Day 7: CD33 CAR NK infusion Day 14; CD33 CAR NK infusion (for patients on DL4)
Patients will be admitted to the hospital for 4-5 weeks during each cycle of treatment for count nadir and recovery.
2,971 studies on the registry are indexed under Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; 745 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 42 is close to the median of 41 across 2,509 interventional studies indexed under Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute.
Browse Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute studies →Nationwide Children's Hospital is the lead sponsor of 231 studies on the registry; 43 are open to participants now.
Of its 16 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 8 (50%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Patients with relapsed or primary refractory CD33+ AML, including:
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:
Exclusion Criteria:
Prior therapies:
Allogeneic SCT within 90 days of enrollment
Uncontrolled infection, defined as an infection which has not resolved or does not show evidence of significant resolution after initiating appropriate therapy
o Asymptomatic viremia such as CMV, HPV, BK virus, HCV, etc. is NOT considered as an exclusion criterion
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
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.
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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: Day 35
Overall survival, event free survival and duration of remission
To estimate the overall survival, event free survival, and duration of remission in patients who do not proceed to HSCT.
Time frame: 1 year
Depth of remission
To determine the percentage of patients who achieve molecular remission and/or MRD negative remission by flow cytometry.
Time frame: Day 35
Events of special interest
To determine the rate of events of special interest including: Cytokine Release Syndrome, Immune Effector Cell Neurotoxicity Syndrome, Immune Effector Cell-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis-Like Syndrome, hepatic VOD, primary graft failure (in patients who undergo HSCT)
Time frame: 8 weeks post CAR NK, day +30 post HSCT
Neutrophil recovery
To evaluate the median time to neutrophil and platelet recovery
Time frame: 1 year
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Nov 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Nationwide Children's Hospital