Phase I/II study of TROP2 CAR engineered IL15-transduced cord blood-derived NK cells delivered intraperitoneally for the management of platinum resistant ovarian cancer, mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancer.
Authors: Knisely Anne , Rafei Hind , Basar Rafet , Banerjee Pinaki Prosad , Metwalli Zeyad , Lito Kathryn , Fellman Bryan M. , Yuan Ying , Wolff Robert A. , Morelli Maria Pia , Meyer Larissa Alejandra , Wang Xin Shelley , Westin Shannon Neville , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Shpall Elizabeth J. , Lu Karen H. , Rezvani Katy , Jazaeri Amir A. 
Published: July 2024

TPS5626 Background: Novel treatments are needed for patients with ovarian, pancreatic, and mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) that has recurred or progressed after initial treatment, as current standard of care therapies in these settings result in low response rates. Chimeric antigen receptor-transduced natural killer (CAR-NK) cells have emerged as a therapeutic alternative to CAR-T cells, with decreased toxicity and enhanced feasibility as an “off-the-shelf” therapy. TROP2, or trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2, is a transmembrane calcium-signal transducer that is overexpressed in many cancer types and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Recent studies have demonstrated TROP2 as a promising target for adoptive cell therapy in breast and gastric cancers. An intraperitoneal route of adoptive cell therapy delivery may provide superior disease control and decreased toxicity in these target cancers with predisposition for intra-abdominal/peritoneal involvement. Pre-clinical studies have established the efficacy and safety of TROP2 CAR NK cells in ovarian and pancreatic cancers. Methods: This is a phase I/II study of the intraperitoneal delivery of TROP2-CAR/IL-15 transduced cord blood (CB)-NK cells for recurrent/progressive ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and MLA (NCT05922930). Subjects must have disease present in the peritoneal cavity or retroperitoneal lymph nodes and tumors must demonstrate at least 1+ TROP2 expression by immunohistochemistry. The primary endpoints are toxicity rates and defining the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Key secondary endpoints include treatment efficacy, circulating tumor DNA levels, serial characterization of the immune microenvironment, and patient-reported outcomes. There are four possible dose levels ranging from 8.0x106 to 4.0x109 cells. We will enroll patients from the three disease cohorts using the Bayesian optimal interval (BOIN) design to find the maximum tolerated dose and RP2D, with a maximum sample size of 21. Once the R2PD is chosen, we will enroll up to 10 patients within each disease cohort to further evaluate safety and efficacy. Subjects enrolled will be admitted to the hospital, receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy (fludarabine 30 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 300mg/m2) on days -5 to -3, and will receive a single dose of cryopreserved and thawed intraperitoneal TROP2-CAR/IL15-transduced CB-NK cells on day 0. The dose-limiting toxicity window will be from day 0 until day 28. Severity of adverse events will be graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5. The first patient on this trial was treated in January 2024. Clinical trial information: NCT0592293 .