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RecruitingNCT07744256Updated Aug 4, 2026

Adaptive Phase 1/2 Study of Dual-Target CAR-NK Cells in Relapsed/Refractory Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of EB-DART-NK01 and Lymphodepleting chemotherapy in Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), Relapsed/Refractory SCLC and Extensive-stage SCLC, sponsored by Beijing Biotech. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-04.

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

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Mar 2026, registered Jul 2026).
  • Started Mar 2026; still recruiting 8 months later.
Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This example study is an open-label, multi-center, adaptive Phase 1/2 trial evaluating the safety, feasibility, and preliminary antitumor activity of allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cell products in adults with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Three candidate dual-target constructs (DLL3/CD56, DLL3/GD2, and CD56/GD2) will be assessed during dose escalation; a pre-specified interim assessment will select the most suitable construct to proceed into an expansion cohort at the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).

Read the detailed description

Rationale: SCLC is characterized by rapid progression, early relapse after platinum-based therapy, and antigen heterogeneity. DLL3, CD56 (NCAM1), and GD2 are frequently evaluated SCLC-associated surface targets. Dual-target CAR designs may reduce antigen-escape risk compared with single-target approaches.

Investigational products: Three off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-NK cell products are evaluated. Each product is manufactured from healthy-donor NK cells and engineered to express a dual-target CAR plus a safety switch (e.g., inducible caspase-9) and a persistence support element (e.g., IL-15 support). The exact construct features can be adapted to the sponsor's platform.

Study schema: (1) Screening and biomarker assessment, including tumor antigen profiling for DLL3, CD56, and GD2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or validated equivalent assay. (2) Phase 1 dose escalation in up to three parallel arms (one arm per dual-target construct) using a modified 3+3 design to determine MTD and/or RP2D. (3) Interim construct selection based on a composite of safety (DLT rate), manufacturability/feasibility, in vivo expansion/persistence, and preliminary efficacy. (4) Phase 2 expansion cohort treated with the selected construct at RP2D to further characterize safety and estimate antitumor activity.

Conditioning and dosing: Participants receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy (e.g., fludarabine and cyclophosphamide) followed by CAR-NK infusion(s). Because NK-cell persistence can be limited, repeat dosing within a cycle is permitted (e.g., Day 0, Day 7, Day 14), and a second cycle may be allowed in responders without prohibitive toxicity.

Safety monitoring: Participants are monitored for cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), infusion reactions, cytopenias, infections, and other adverse events. An independent safety monitoring committee reviews cumulative safety at each dose level and prior to construct selection.

Follow-up: Clinical follow-up continues for 24 months for efficacy and late toxicity. Long-term follow-up for gene-modified cell products (up to 15 years) may be conducted per local regulatory requirements to monitor delayed adverse events

02

Conditions studied

  • Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
  • Relapsed/Refractory SCLC
  • Extensive-stage SCLC

Keywords

  • CAR-NK
  • Dual-target
  • Adoptive cell therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Solid tumor
  • Small cell lung cancer
  • DLL3
  • CD56 (NCAM1)
  • GD2
03

In context

Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

1,301 studies on the registry are indexed under Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; 367 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 60 is close to the median of 56 across 1,077 interventional studies indexed under Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Browse Small Cell Lung Carcinoma studies →

Lead sponsor

Beijing Biotech is the lead sponsor of 32 studies on the registry; 32 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

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

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 to 75 years at the time of consent.
  • or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that is , extensive-stage, or unresectable, and after at least 1 prior systemic regimen (must include a platinum-based regimen unless ).
  • At least one per v1.1.
  • performance status 0 to 1.
  • Adequate organ function (hematologic, renal, hepatic, and cardiac) as defined in the protocol (examples: >= 1.0 x10\^9/L, >= 75 x10\^9/L, >= 50 mL/min, /ALT \<= 3 x , total \<= 1.5 x ULN).
  • >= 12 weeks.
  • Tumor tissue available (archival or fresh) for antigen profiling (DLL3, CD56/NCAM1, GD2).
  • Negative pregnancy test for persons of ; agreement to use effective for the protocol-defined duration.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active or uncontrolled or (treated/stable CNS metastases may be allowed per protocol).
  • Prior treatment with CAR-T, CAR-NK, or other gene-modified cellular therapy within 6 months (or any prior therapy directed against the target antigens if it would confound safety/efficacy assessment).
  • hematopoietic stem cell transplant within 6 months or active .
  • Active uncontrolled infection, including uncontrolled , active or C with viremia, or active tuberculosis.
  • cardiovascular disease (e.g., recent myocardial infarction within 6 months, uncontrolled arrhythmia, \< 45%).
  • Active disease requiring systemic ; chronic systemic use > 10 mg/day prednisone equivalent (unless for physiologic replacement).
  • Concurrent requiring active treatment (exceptions may apply for certain non-melanoma skin cancers or in situ cancers).
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would make participation unsafe or interfere with compliance.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(29)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

Relapsed and refractory

Relapsed: the illness came back after treatment had worked. Refractory: it did not respond to treatment, or stopped responding while still on it.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Measurable disease

The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.

The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.

RECIST

The standard rules for measuring tumours on CT or MRI scans, to tell whether a cancer is shrinking, stable or growing during treatment.

“Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1” usually means at least one tumour 10 mm or more at its longest on a CT scan, or a lymph node 15 mm or more across its short axis.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

Life expectancy

The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Brain metastases

Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).

Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.

Leptomeningeal disease

Cancer that has spread to the leptomeninges, the thin layers covering the brain and spinal cord, and the fluid between them. It is not the same as brain metastases.

Criteria often treat it separately, and many studies leave it out even where treated brain metastases are allowed.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Allogeneic and autologous transplant

Stem cell (bone marrow) transplants. Allogeneic uses cells from a donor; autologous uses your own cells, collected earlier and given back.

GVHD (graft-versus-host disease)

After a transplant from a donor, the donor’s immune cells attack the recipient’s body, often the skin, gut or liver.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)

The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    DLL3/CD56 Dual-Target CAR-NK

    Allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cells targeting DLL3 and CD56 (NCAM1) following lymphodepleting chemotherapy.

    Biological: EB-DART-NK01 · Drug: Lymphodepleting chemotherapy

  • Experimental
    DLL3/GD2 Dual-Target CAR-NK

    Allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cells targeting DLL3 and GD2 following lymphodepleting chemotherapy.

    Biological: EB-DART-NK01 · Drug: Lymphodepleting chemotherapy

  • Experimental
    CD56/GD2 Dual-Target CAR-NK

    Allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cells targeting CD56 (NCAM1) and GD2 following lymphodepleting chemotherapy.

    Biological: EB-DART-NK01 · Drug: Lymphodepleting chemotherapy

Interventions

  • BiologicalEB-DART-NK01

    Allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cells engineered to enhance tumor recognition and cytotoxicity against heterogeneous solid tumors.

  • DrugLymphodepleting chemotherapy

    An alkylating chemotherapy agent used as part of lymphodepleting conditioning prior to CAR-NK cell infusion to enhance cell expansion, persistence, and anti-tumor activity.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of dose-limiting toxicities

    Time frame: 28 Days

  2. maximum tolerated dose (MTD)

    maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the drug

    Time frame: 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Objective response rate

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Disease control rate

    Time frame: 12 months

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 4, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07744256
Lead sponsor
Beijing Biotech
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 4, 2026
Start date
Mar 2, 2026
Primary completion
Feb 14, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 17, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 4, 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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