This is a Phase 1/2, open-label, single arm, multicohort study to evaluate the safety and
efficacy of JCAR017 in pediatric subjects aged ≤ 25 years with CD19+ r/r B-ALL and B-NHL.
Phase 1 will identify a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). Phase 2 will evaluate the efficacy
of JCAR017 RP2D in the following three disease cohorts: Cohort 1 (r/r B-ALL), Cohort 2 (MRD+
B-ALL) and Cohort 3 (r/r B-NHL, [DLBCL, BL, or PMBCL]). A Simon's Optimal two-stage study
design will be applied to Cohort 1 and 2 in Phase 2.
This is a Phase 1/2, open-label, single arm, multicohort study incorporating Simon's Optimal
two-stage design to evaluate the safety and efficacy of JCAR017 in pediatric subjects aged ≤
25 years with CD19+ r/r B-ALL and B-NHL.
In the Phase 1, up to 5 dose levels will be of JCAR017 will be evaluated. Enrollment will
commence in pediatric subjects with r/r B-ALL at Dose Level 1 (DL1) of 0.05x10^6 CAR+ T
cells/kg (maximum DL1 of 5x10^6 JCAR017 CAR+ T cells [non-weight adjusted]). If this dose is
confirmed to be safe and tolerable, additional subjects will be enrolled at higher dose(s) up
to 0.75 x10^6 CAR+ T cells/kg (maximum of 75x10^6 JCAR017 CAR+ T cells [non-weight adjusted])
with the aim to identify the RP2D. Dose escalation/de-escalation will follow a modified
toxicity probability interval (mTPI-2) algorithm. A Safety Review Committee (SRC) will
recommend the Phase 2 dose (defined as RP2D) based on an integrated assessment of the safety,
PK and preliminary efficacy information from at least 10 pediatric subjects treated at the
RP2D.
In Phase 2, a minimum of 71 additional subjects (< 18 years of age) will be enrolled into one
of the 3 cohorts listed below. The sample size for Cohorts 1 and 2 is calculated according to
Simon's Optimal two-stage design. The 10 or more pediatric subjects treated at the RP2D in
Phase 1 will form part of the sample size (ie, Cohort 1 and Cohort 2). Therefore, the
protocol intends to treat 81 primary endpoint evaluable pediatric subjects in Phase 2, if
warranted by the evaluation of results at the completion of the first stage of the study in
each cohort.
- Cohort 1 (r/r B-ALL): 48 evaluable pediatric subjects (13 subjects in Stage 1 and 35 in
Stage 2)
- Cohort 2 (MRD+ B-ALL): 23 evaluable pediatric subjects (9 subjects in Stage 1 and 14
subjects in Stage 2)
- Cohort 3 (r/r B-NHL [DLBCL, BL, or PMBCL]): 10 evaluable pediatric subjects. Due to the
very low incidence rate and therefore expected low subject accrual, there is no formal
sample size for this arm.
Up to 20 additional B-ALL subjects between 18 and 25 years of age may be enrolled in Phase 2.
Following treatment with JCAR017 subjects will then enter the post-treatment period for
disease progression/relapse, safety, CAR T cell persistence, and survival up to 24 months
after administration of JCAR017.
Efficacy will be assessed both locally and by an Independent Review Committee. Response
assessments will be based on bone marrow and blood morphologic criteria, physical examination
findings, along with laboratory assessments of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and bone marrow
MRD (B-ALL only) assessments. B-NHL subjects will also have radiographic disease assessment
by CT/MRI scans and tumor biopsies, if accessible.
Post-study follow-up for survival, relapse, long-term toxicity, and lentiviral vector safety
will continue under a separate long-term follow-up protocol for up to 15 years after the
JCAR017 infusion as per health authority regulatory guidelines.
An Independent Data Monitoring Committee will monitor the study conduct.
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects must satisfy the following criteria to be enrolled in the study:
1. Phase 1: Subject < 18 years of age and weighs ≥ 6 kg at the time of signing the
informed consent form (ICF)/informed assent form (IAF).
Phase 2: Subject ≤ 25 years of age and weighs ≥ 6 kg at the time of signing the
ICF/IAF.
2. Subject (when applicable, parental/legal representative) must understand and
voluntarily provide permission to the ICF/IAF prior to conducting any study-related
assessments/procedures.
3. Subject is willing and able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol
requirements.
4. Investigator considers the subject is appropriate for adoptive T cell therapy.
5. Evidence of CD19 expression via flow cytometry (peripheral blood or bone marrow) or
immunohistochemistry (bone marrow biopsy)
6. Subject has a Karnofsky score of ≥ 50 (subjects ≥ 16 years of age) or a Lansky score ≥
50 (subjects < 16 years of age).
7. Diagnosis of B-cell ALL or B-cell NHL as defined below:
Phase 1: Subjects with r/r B-ALL, defined as morphological evidence of disease in BM
(5% or greater lymphoblast by morphology) and either of the following:
- First or greater marrow relapse, or
- Any marrow relapse after allogeneic HSCT, or
- Primary refractory defined as not achieving a CR or a CRi after 2 or more
separate induction regimens (or chemo-refractory as not achieving CR/CRi after 1
cycle of standard chemotherapy for relapsed leukemia), or
- Ineligible for allogeneic HSCT Note: Subjects will be included regardless of MRD
status.
Phase 2: Subjects with one of the following:
- Cohort 1: r/r B-ALL, defined as morphological evidence of disease in BM (5% or
greater lymphoblast by morphology) and either:
- First or greater marrow relapse, or
- Any marrow relapse after allogeneic HSCT, or
- Primary refractory defined as not achieving a CR or a CRi after 2 or more
separate induction regimens (or chemo-refractory as not achieving CR/CRi
after 1 cycle of standard chemotherapy for relapsed leukemia), or
- Ineligible for allogeneic HSCT.
- Cohort 2: MRD+ B-ALL, defined as:
- < 5% lymphoblasts by morphology with,
- MRD detected by a validated assay at a frequency of 1 x10-4 or greater in BM
cells. Subjects eligible for enrollment in Cohort 2 are those with MRD
positive morphologic CR2 after re-induction when these subjects had
previously experienced an early relapse (< 36 months) after first-line
chemotherapy. Subjects who are in MRD+ morphologic CR3 and later, regardless
of time to relapse in earlier lines, are also eligible. Subjects who are in
morphologic relapse at screening (r/r B-ALL) and become MRD+ after bridging
chemotherapy are also eligible for treatment in Cohort 2.
- Cohort 3: r/r B-NHL (DLBCL, BL or PMBCL), defined as measurable disease after 1
or more lines of chemotherapy and/or having failed HSCT or being ineligible for
HSCT.
Note: B-NHL subjects with secondary CNS lymphoma involvement are eligible however
subject selection must consider clinical risk factors for severe neurological AEs and
alternative treatment options. Subjects should only be enrolled if the Investigator
considers the potential benefit outweighs the risk for the subject.
8. Subjects with Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL are eligible if they are intolerant
to or have failed one or more lines of tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy or if
TKI therapy is contraindicated.
9. Adequate organ function, defined as:
- Adequate BM function to receive LD chemotherapy as assessed by the Investigator.
- Subject with adequate renal function, which is defined as:
Serum creatinine based on age/gender as described below. Subjects that do not meet the
criteria but who have a creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration
rate (GFR) > 70 mL/min/1.73 m2 are eligible.• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 5 x
upper limit of normal (ULN) and total bilirubin < 2.0 mg/dL (or < 3.0 mg/dL for
subjects with Gilbert's syndrome or leukemic/lymphomatous infiltration of the liver).
- Adequate pulmonary function, defined as ≤ Grade 1 dyspnea according to Common
Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and oxygen saturation (SaO2) ≥ 92%
on room air.
- Adequate cardiac function, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥
40% as assessed by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multi-gated acquisition scan (MUGA)
within 4 weeks prior to leukapheresis.
10. Adequate vascular access for leukapheresis procedure.
11. Participants must agree to use effective contraception
Exclusion Criteria:
The presence of any of the following will exclude a subject from enrollment:
1. Subject has any significant medical condition, laboratory abnormality, or psychiatric
illness that would prevent the subject from participating in the study.
2. Subject has any condition including the presence of laboratory abnormalities, which
places the subject at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study.
3. Subject has any condition that confounds the ability to interpret data from the study.
4. Subject with a history of another primary malignancy that has not been in remission
for at least 2 years prior to enrollment.
5. Subjects who have received previous CD19-targeted therapy must have CD19-positive
disease confirmed since completing the prior CD19-targeted therapy.
6. Prior CAR T cell or other genetically-modified T cell therapy.
7. Subject with a previous history of or active hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
8. Subjects with uncontrolled systemic fungal, bacterial, viral or other infection
(including tuberculosis) despite appropriate antibiotics or other treatment at the
time of leukapheresis or JCAR017 infusion.
9. Subject has presence of acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
10. Subject with active autoimmune disease requiring immunosuppressive therapy.
11. Subject has cardiac disorders (CTCAE version 4.03 Grade 3 or 4) within the past 6
months.
12. Subject with a concomitant genetic syndrome, with the exception of Down's syndrome.
13. Subject with active CNS disease and significant neurological deterioration. Subjects
with CNS-2 or CNS-3 involvement are eligible provided they are asymptomatic and do not
have significant neurological deterioration and, in the opinion of the study
investigator, the CNS disease burden can be controlled until JCAR017 infusion.
14. Subject with a history or presence of clinically relevant CNS pathology such as
epilepsy, seizure, paresis, aphasia, stroke, cerebral edema, severe brain injuries,
dementia, Parkinson's disease, cerebellar disease, organic brain syndrome, or
psychosis.
15. Subject is pregnant or nursing.
16. Subject has used the following:
- Therapeutic doses of corticosteroids (defined as > 0.4 mg/kg maximum 20 mg/day
prednisone or equivalent) within 7 days prior to leukapheresis or 72 hours prior
to JCAR017 infusion. Physiologic replacement, topical, and inhaled steroids are
permitted.
- Low-dose chemotherapy (eg, vincristine, rituximab, cyclophosphamide ≤ 300 mg/m2)
given after leukapheresis to maintain disease control must be stopped ≥ 7 days
prior to LD chemotherapy.
- Cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents that are not considered lymphotoxic within 1
week prior to leukapheresis. Oral anticancer agents are allowed if at least 3
half-lives have elapsed prior to leukapheresis.
- Lymphotoxic chemotherapeutic agents (eg, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide,
bendamustine) within 2 weeks prior to leukapheresis.
- Experimental agents within 4 weeks prior to leukapheresis unless no response or
PD is documented on the experimental therapy and at least 3 half-lives have
elapsed prior to leukapheresis.
- Immunosuppressive therapies within 4 weeks prior to leukapheresis and JCAR017
infusion (eg, calcineurin inhibitors, methotrexate or other chemotherapeutics,
mycophenolate, rapamycin, thalidomide, immunosuppressive antibodies such as
antitumor necrosis factor [TNF], anti-IL-6, or anti-IL-6R).
- Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) within 6 weeks prior to JCAR017 infusion.
- Radiation within 6 weeks prior to leukapheresis. Subjects must have PD in
irradiated lesions or have additional non-irradiated lesions to be eligible.
Radiation to a single lesion, if additional non-irradiated, measurable lesions
are present, is allowed up to 2 weeks prior to leukapheresis.
- Allogeneic HSCT within 90 days prior to leukapheresis.
17. Tumor invasion of venous or arterial vessels (B-NHL subjects only).
18. Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) or Pulmonary Embolism (PE) within 3 months prior to
leukapheresis. Subjects with DVT or PE that occurred longer than 3 months prior to
leukapheresis, who still require ongoing therapeutic levels of anti-coagulation
therapy, are also excluded.
19. Existence of CD19-negative clone(s) of leukemia cells
