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RecruitingNCT07622940Updated Jun 3, 2026

Dual-Target CLDN18.2/HER2 CAR-NK Cells for Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of EBNK-1822H2 dual-target CLDN18.2/HER2 CAR-NK cells and Fludarabine in Recurrent or Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Biomarker-selected CLDN18.2-positive and/or HER2-positive Disease, sponsored by Beijing Biotech. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-03.

Sponsored by Beijing Biotech · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
36
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This example study evaluates the safety, feasibility, cellular kinetics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of EBNK-1822H2, an illustrative allogeneic cord blood-derived dual-target CAR-NK cell product directed against CLDN18.2 and HER2, in adults with relapsed/refractory or metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma after standard therapy. The study uses dose escalation followed by biomarker-defined expansion and prospectively records EGFR expression as an exploratory biomarker of antigen escape.

Read the detailed description

Background and target-selection logic. Esophageal adenocarcinoma shares biomarker biology with GEJ adenocarcinoma. In the current public development landscape, CLDN18.2 and HER2 are the two most clinically actionable candidates for a first esophageal adenocarcinoma dual-target CAR-NK concept.

This example therefore advances a CLDN18.2/HER2 tandem-target product and treats EGFR as a pre-specified exploratory biomarker, not as the primary CAR target in version 1.

Investigational product. EBNK-1822H2 is a hypothetical off-the-shelf NK-cell product derived from cord blood and engineered with a tandem CAR recognizing CLDN18.2 and HER2, together with a persistence-support module (for example, membrane-bound IL-15) and an inducible caspase-9 safety switch. This is an example investigational product description for protocol-drafting purposes only.

Study structure. Phase 1 uses an open-label dose-escalation design after fludarabine/cyclophosphamide lymphodepletion to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose/schedule (RP2D/RP2S). Phase 2 expands at the selected regimen in three biomarker-defined strata: (1) CLDN18.2-positive/HER2-negative, (2) HER2-positive/CLDN18.2-low or negative, and (3) dual-positive disease. Participants receive one intravenous infusion on Day 0; a protocol-defined repeat infusion on Day 21 may be allowed in the expansion portion if there is no DLT or uncontrolled grade 3+ immune toxicity.

Correlative program. Screening includes central or local assessment of CLDN18.2 and HER2, with EGFR captured prospectively at baseline and, when feasible, at progression. Correlative studies include ctDNA response, cytokine profiling, CAR-NK persistence, tumor microenvironment markers, and antigen-pattern analyses to inform future multi-target program evolution.

02

Conditions studied

  • Recurrent or Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
  • Biomarker-selected CLDN18.2-positive and/or HER2-positive Disease

Keywords

  • CAR-NK
  • Allogeneic NK cells
  • Cellular immunotherapy
  • CLDN18.2
  • HER2 (ERBB2)
  • EGFR (exploratory biomarker)
  • Esophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma
  • Dose escalation
  • Dose expansion
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Histologically confirmed esophageal adenocarcinoma or Siewert I/II gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma judged biologically consistent with esophageal adenocarcinoma, unresectable/recurrent/metastatic, and not amenable to curative therapy.
  • Disease progressed after at least 1 prior systemic regimen for advanced disease, or the participant is intolerant of / ineligible for standard therapy. Biomarker-directed therapy must have been received or deemed inappropriate/unavailable where standard in the local setting.
  • At least 1 measurable lesion by RECIST v1.1.
  • Evidence of at least one selected target: CLDN18.2-positive by validated IHC (example threshold: membranous staining in

    ≥75% of tumor cells with moderate/strong intensity or protocol-specified central threshold), and/or HER2-positive by IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH-amplified disease.

  • ECOG performance status 0-1.
  • Adequate marrow, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, and cardiac function per protocol laboratory thresholds.
  • Life expectancy ≥12 weeks.
  • Resolution of clinically significant prior-therapy toxicities to grade ≤1 (except alopecia or stable endocrinopathies).
  • Willingness to provide archival tumor tissue and to undergo fresh biopsy when safely feasible.
  • Negative pregnancy test for participants of childbearing potential and agreement to protocol-defined contraception.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or non-adenocarcinoma histology.
  • Known active CNS metastases or leptomeningeal disease; previously treated stable CNS disease may be allowed only if asymptomatic and off escalating steroids per protocol.
  • Prior gene-modified cellular therapy within 12 weeks, or another investigational therapy likely to confound interpretation of safety or efficacy.
  • Active uncontrolled infection, including uncontrolled hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV viremia, sepsis, or clinically significant opportunistic infection.
  • Ongoing systemic immunosuppressive therapy above physiologic steroid replacement.
  • Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within 2 years.
  • Clinically significant interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, or left ventricular ejection fraction \<50%.
  • Active gastrointestinal perforation, uncontrolled bleeding, or clinically significant mucosal ulceration that would increase study-treatment risk.
  • Prior solid organ transplant or active graft-versus-host disease.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Another active malignancy requiring systemic therapy, except protocol-permitted low-risk cancers.
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
36 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    EBNK-1822H2 after lymphodepletion

    Participants receive fludarabine and cyclophosphamide lymphodepletion followed by intravenous infusion of allogeneic dual-target CLDN18.2/HER2 CAR-NK cells on Day 0. A protocol-defined repeat infusion on Day 21 may be permitted in dose expansion if safety criteria are met.

    Biological: EBNK-1822H2 dual-target CLDN18.2/HER2 CAR-NK cells · Drug: Fludarabine · Drug: Cyclophosphamide

Interventions

  • BiologicalEBNK-1822H2 dual-target CLDN18.2/HER2 CAR-NK cells

    Illustrative allogeneic cord blood-derived NK-cell product engineered to recognize CLDN18.2 and HER2.

    Also known as: Dual-target CAR-NK; EBNK-1822H2

  • DrugFludarabine

    Lymphodepletion backbone

    Also known as: Fludara

  • DrugCyclophosphamide

    Lymphodepletion backbone

    Also known as: Cytoxan

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs)

    Time frame: 28 days

  2. Incidence and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events

    Time frame: 12 months

  3. Recommended phase 2 dose

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST v1.1

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Disease control rate (DCR) by RECIST v1.1

    Time frame: 12 months

  3. Duration of response

    Time frame: 12 Months

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
    Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
    Recruiting
07

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07622940
Lead sponsor
Beijing Biotech
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 3, 2026
Start date
Mar 2, 2026
Primary completion
Mar 14, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 17, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 3, 2026

Study contacts

shan S Lu, Phd
Contact
Seni-Lu@beijing-biotech.com
+86 13076790030

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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