Harnessing the Immunosuppressive Leukemic Microenvironment to Engineer T Cells With Enhanced Anti-tumor Functionality

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorIRCCS San Raffaele

About this trial

This is a monocentric, retrospective and prospective study aimed to underline the potential of T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated Ab recognition from the post transplant setting in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The study is based on three key biological concepts:

* the essential role of CD4+ T cells in leukemia immunosurveillance, * the impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loss or downregulation on immune escape, * the ability of leukemic cells to remodel the tumor microenvironment and impair T-cell function.

By addressing these mechanisms, the study aims to identify novel TCRs and generate next-generation engineered T-cell products with improved anti-leukemic activity. The study will be conducted using samples from healthy donors and patients with AML.

The Retrospective part will involve samples collected per standard of care from patients already present in the institutional Hematologic Cancer Biobank, while prospective part will regard the use of samples collected during the study protocol from healthy donor and AML patients. Healthy donor peripheral blood samples will be used to isolate tumor-specific TCRs and generate engineered T cells, whereas bone marrow and peripheral blood samples from AML patients will be used to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of the engineered T cells.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age ≥18 years

Written informed consent to the regulation of Hematologic Cancer Biobank (EmaBank) of the San Raffaele Hospital (retrospective patients) and to the present study protocol (prospective patients or hematopoietic stem cell transplant donors harvested in the OSR biobank )

Pregnant or breastfeeding and/or women of childbearing potential are eligible

Diagnosis of AML (for patient participants)

Disqualifiers

None

Trial population

The study will include samples from approximately 30 patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including retrospective and prospective bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) samples. Retrospective samples consist of BM and PB samples collected since April 2006 and stored in the Hematological Cancer Biobank of the Ospedale San Raffaele, under specific informed consent and in accordance with the objectives of the present study. Prospective samples will consist of additional peripheral blood volumes collected during routine clinical procedures from AML patients after signing study-specific informed consent. The study will also include samples from 25 healthy donors recruited through the agreement between Ospedale San Raffaele and Garbagnate Hospital.

Trial design

Design model

Cohort

Time perspective

Other

Treatments tested in this trial

Not listed

Trial groups

65 Participants
are grouped into 3 trial groups
Group A: AML patients
Group B: Healthy volunteers
Group C: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant donors

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Identification and functional characterization of novel tumor-specific TCRs

Isolation of novel T-cell receptors (TCRs) and evaluation of the efficacy and safety of TCR-engineered T cells specific for HLA class II-restricted peptides through in vitro and in vivo studies. Efficacy will be assessed by antitumor activity and functional characterization, while safety will be evaluated through in vitro assays to identify potential off-target effects and other safety-related parameters.

Time frame
From study initiation through month 24

Secondary outcomes

1

Development of therapeutic T-cell circuits and investigation of AML resistance to T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Generation and validation of novel therapeutic T-cell circuits designed to enhance T-cell functionality by exploiting tumor-mediated immunosuppressive mechanisms. Engineered T-cell circuits will be evaluated in vivo for anti-tumor activity, and combinatorial therapeutic strategies will be tested to assess their potential to improve anti-tumor responses.

Time frame
From study initiation through year 5

Other outcomes

Locations

This trial has no locations.

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: