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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Natural Killer Cell Therapy (UD TGFbetai NK Cells) and Temozolomide for the Treatment of Stage IV Melanoma Metastatic to the Brain

A Phase I/II Study of Ex-Vivo Expanded Allogeneic Universal Donor (UD) TGFbi NK Cell Infusions in Combination With Temozolomide as a Lymphodepleting Agent in Patients With Melanoma Metastatic to the Brain

Natural Killer Cell Therapy (UD TGFbetai NK Cells) and Temozolomide for the Treatment of Stage IV Melanoma Metastatic to the Brain (NCT05588453) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Clinical Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8 and Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain, sponsored by Kari Kendra. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This phase I/II trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of universal donor UD TGFbetai natural killer (NK) cells, and whether UD TGFbetai NK cells with temozolomide works to shrink tumors in patients with stage IV melanoma that has spread to the brain (metastatic to the brain). NK cells are immune cells that contribute to anti-tumor immunity by recognizing and destroying transformed or stressed cells. Temozolomide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. Giving UD TGFbetai NK cell and temozolomide may work better in treating patients with stage IV melanoma.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Clinical Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 30 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) melanoma with stage IV disease - Radiologically confirmed brain metastasis (n \>= 1) with at least one measurable central nervous system (CNS) lesion \>= 10 mm on T1-weighted gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and unequivocal evidence of progression - No indication for stereotactic radiotherapy - At least 4 weeks from any anticancer treatment (cytotoxic chemotherapy, signal transduction inhibitors, immunotherapy or radiation) - Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 1 x 10\^9/L - Platelets \> 100,000/L - Hemoglobin (Hgb) \>= 10 g/dL - Creatinine =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) - Albumin \>= 2.5 g/dL - Serum bilirubin \< 1.5 x ULN unless due to Gilbert's syndrome - Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 5 x ULN if documented liver metastases or \< 3 X ULN without liver metastasis - \> 18 years old (y/o) - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2 - Females of reproductive age must agree to the use of an effective contraceptive method while on treatment, beginning 2 weeks before the first dose of investigational product and for 28 days after the final dose of investigational product for women. Males able to father a child must practice adequate methods of contraception or completely abstain from intercourse from the first dose of investigational treatment until one week after the final dose of investigational treatment - Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days of enrollment and/or urine pregnancy test 48 hours prior to the administration of the first study treatment - Patient information and written willing to sign a consent form form signed Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Planned or concurrent systemic treatment or radiation therapy ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed melanoma with stage IV disease * Radiologically confirmed brain metastasis (n \>= 1) with at least one measurable central nervous system (CNS) lesion \>= 10 mm on T1-weighted gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and unequivocal evidence of progression * No indication for stereotactic radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks from any anticancer treatment (cytotoxic chemotherapy, signal transduction inhibitors, immunotherapy or radiation) * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 1 x 10\^9/L * Platelets \> 100,000/L * Hemoglobin (Hgb) \>= 10 g/dL * Creatinine =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * Albumin \>= 2.5 g/dL * Serum bilirubin \< 1.5 x ULN unless due to Gilbert's syndrome * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 5 x ULN if documented liver metastases or \< 3 X ULN without liver metastasis * \> 18 years old (y/o) * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2 * Females of reproductive age must agree to the use of an effective contraceptive method while on treatment, beginning 2 weeks before the first dose of investigational product and for 28 days after the final dose of investigational product for women. Males able to father a child must practice adequate methods of contraception or completely abstain from intercourse from the first dose of investigational treatment until one week after the final dose of investigational treatment * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days of enrollment and/or urine pregnancy test 48 hours prior to the administration of the first study treatment * Patient information and written informed consent form signed Exclusion Criteria: * Planned or concurrent systemic treatment or radiation therapy * If requiring corticosteroids for cerebral edema, patients must be on a stable dose. Lowest dose of steroids needed to control CNS edema is recommended. Doses above 4 mg daily need to be cleared by principal investigator (PI) of the study * Known contra-indication to MRI * Patients with non-melanoma malignancies are excluded unless a complete remission has been achieved at least 3 years prior to study entry and no additional therapy is required or anticipated during the study period (exceptions include: non-melanoma skin cancers, in situ bladder cancer, in situ gastric cancer, in situ colon cancers, in situ cervical cancers/dysplasia, or in situ breast carcinoma) * Patients with other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease which could compromise participation in the study, such as: * Active infection * Current active hepatic or renal disease * Pregnant women, women who are likely to become pregnant or are breastfeeding * Patients with significantly altered mental status prohibiting the understanding of the study or with psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical conditions potentially hampering ability to consent, compliance with the study protocol, and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before remigration in the trial * Patients who received any other investigational drugs within the 30 days prior to screening visit * Leptomeningeal metastases diagnosed by MRI * Inclusion in another therapeutic protocol within 30 days * If steroids are necessary to control symptoms related to CNS metastases, patients should be on the lowest dose of steroids necessary to control symptoms

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

Natural Killer Cell Therapy

Given UD TGFbi NK cell IV

DRUG

Temozolomide

Given PO

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05588453), the sponsor (Kari Kendra), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05588453 clinical trial studying?

This phase I/II trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of universal donor UD TGFbetai natural killer (NK) cells, and whether UD TGFbetai NK cells with temozolomide works to shrink tumors in patients with stage IV melanoma that has spread to the brain (metastatic to the brain). NK cells are immune cells that contribute to anti-tumor immunity by recognizing and destroying transformed or stressed cells. Temozolomide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. Giving UD TGFbetai NK cell and temozolomide… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05588453?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05588453?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05588453. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05588453. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.