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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Pilot Study of Memory-like Natural Killer (ML NK) Cells After TCRαβ T Cell Depleted Haploidentical Transplant in AML

A Phase I/II Pilot Study of Memory-like NK Cells to Consolidate TCRαβ T Cell Depleted Haploidentical Transplant in High-risk AML

Pilot Study of Memory-like Natural Killer (ML NK) Cells After TCRαβ T Cell Depleted Haploidentical Transplant in AML (NCT06158828) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying AML, Childhood and Aml, sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine. 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 trial represents a single institution phase I/II pilot study with the primary objective of establishing the safety and feasibility of generating and infusing ML NK cells after TCRαβ haplo-HCT.

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 AML, Childhood, 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.

Target enrollment of 68 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused AML, Childhood subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Patient Inclusion Criteria - Cohort 1: 1. High risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in either: 1. Complete remission (CR) defined by \< 5% marrow blasts by morphology in the context of hematological recovery (white blood cell count (ANC) at least 0.5× 10\^9/L, platelet count ≥ 50 × 10\^9/L). 2. Morphological leukemia free state (MLFS) defined by the absence of hematological recovery and \< 5% marrow blasts by morphology 2. Patients must further meet one of the below for inclusion into the study: 1. De novo AML in CR1 with any of the following high-risk features: - MRD ≥ 1% after first induction course - MRD ≥ 0.1% after second induction course - RPN1-MECOM - RUNX1-MECOM - NPM1-MLF1 - DEK-NUP214 - KAT6A-CREBBP (if ≥ 90 days at diagnosis) - FUS-ERG - KMT2A-AFF1 - KMT2A-AFDN - KMT2A-ABI1 - KMT2A-MLLT1 - 11p15 rearrangement (NUP98 - any partner gene) - 12p13.2 rearrangement (ETV6 - any partner gene) - Deletion 12p to include 12p13.2 (loss of ETV6) - Monosomy 5/Del(5q) to include 5q31 (loss of EGR1) - Monosomy 7 - 10p12.3 rearrangement (MLLT10b - any partner gene) - FLT3/ITD with allelic ratio \> 0.1%, without bZIP CEBPA or NPM1 - RAM phenotype as evidenced by flow cytometry - Other high-risk features not explicitly stated here, after discussion/approval with protocol PI. 2. De novo AML in ≥ CR2 3. Therapy-related AML in CR1 4. AML evolving from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) 3. One prior hematopoietic cell transplant is allowed, provided remission criteria as defined above are met. Patient Inclusion Criteria - Cohort 2: 1. High risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) defined by either of the following: 1. Treatment refractory disease: AML that is not in complete remission despite prior standard or salvage therapies. 2. Multiply relapsed disease: AML that has relapsed after 2 or more hematopoietic cell transplantations. ...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
Patient Inclusion Criteria - Cohort 1: 1. High risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in either: 1. Complete remission (CR) defined by \< 5% marrow blasts by morphology in the context of hematological recovery (ANC ≥ 0.5× 10\^9/L, platelet count ≥ 50 × 10\^9/L). 2. Morphological leukemia free state (MLFS) defined by the absence of hematological recovery and \< 5% marrow blasts by morphology 2. Patients must further meet one of the below for inclusion into the study: 1. De novo AML in CR1 with any of the following high-risk features: * MRD ≥ 1% after first induction course * MRD ≥ 0.1% after second induction course * RPN1-MECOM * RUNX1-MECOM * NPM1-MLF1 * DEK-NUP214 * KAT6A-CREBBP (if ≥ 90 days at diagnosis) * FUS-ERG * KMT2A-AFF1 * KMT2A-AFDN * KMT2A-ABI1 * KMT2A-MLLT1 * 11p15 rearrangement (NUP98 - any partner gene) * 12p13.2 rearrangement (ETV6 - any partner gene) * Deletion 12p to include 12p13.2 (loss of ETV6) * Monosomy 5/Del(5q) to include 5q31 (loss of EGR1) * Monosomy 7 * 10p12.3 rearrangement (MLLT10b - any partner gene) * FLT3/ITD with allelic ratio \> 0.1%, without bZIP CEBPA or NPM1 * RAM phenotype as evidenced by flow cytometry * Other high-risk features not explicitly stated here, after discussion/approval with protocol PI. 2. De novo AML in ≥ CR2 3. Therapy-related AML in CR1 4. AML evolving from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) 3. One prior hematopoietic cell transplant is allowed, provided remission criteria as defined above are met. Patient Inclusion Criteria - Cohort 2: 1. High risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) defined by either of the following: 1. Treatment refractory disease: AML that is not in complete remission despite prior standard or salvage therapies. 2. Multiply relapsed disease: AML that has relapsed after 2 or more hematopoietic cell transplantations. 2. BM disease burden: Less than 25% bone marrow blasts by morphology must be present (M2 marrow), irrespective of peripheral hematological recovery. Patient Inclusion Criteria - Both Cohorts: 1. Less than or equal to 40 years of age. 2. Lansky (\<16 years) or Karnofsky (≥16 years) performance status of \>60%. 3. Adequate organ function as defined below: 1. Total bilirubin ≤ 3 x IULN for age 2. AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 5 x IULN for age 3. GFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m2 as estimated by (1) updated Schwartz formula for ages 1-17 years or Cockcroft-Gault formula for ages ≥ 18 years, (2) 24-hour creatinine clearance, or (3) renal scintigraphy. If GFR is abnormal for age based on updated Schwartz or Cockcroft-Gault formula, accurate measurement should be obtained by either 24-hour creatinine clearance or renal scintigraphy. 4. Renal function may also be estimated by serum creatinine based on age/gender. A serum creatinine \< 2 x IULN for age/gender is required for inclusion on this protocol. 4. Adequate cardiac function, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at rest ≥50% or shortening fraction (SF) ≥27% (via echocardiogram or MUGA). 5. Adequate pulmonary function, defined by: 1. FEV1, FVC, and DLCO ≥50% of predicted. 2. O2 saturation ≥ 92% on room air by pulse oximetry and no supplemental O2 at rest for children \< 8 years of age or those unable to perform pulmonary function testing (PFT). For children unable to perform PFT, a high-resolution CT chest should be obtained. 6. The effects of these treatments on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 24 months following transplant. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately. 7. Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document, or patient has a guardian who has the ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document. 8. Available familial haploidentical donor. The HCT donor must be available and willing to undergo 2 leukapheresis procedures: (I) one mobilized collection for the HPC graft and (II) one non-mobilized leukapheresis collection for the manufacturing of ML NK cells. 9. Donor and recipient must be identical at a minimum of one allele of each of the following genetic loci: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-Cw, HLA-DRB1, and HLA- DQB1. A minimum of 5/10 match is required and will be considered sufficient evidence that the donor and recipient share one HLA haplotype. Patient Exclusion Criteria - Both Cohorts 1. Active GvHD. If patient had prior GvHD, patient must be off immunosuppression for at least 3 months prior to starting study treatment. 2. Active non-hematologic malignancy. History of other malignancy is acceptable as long as therapy has been completed and there is no current evidence of disease. 3. Currently receiving any other investigational agents at the time of transplant. 4. Active CNS or extramedullary disease. History of CNS or extramedullary disease currently in remission is acceptable. 5. A history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to agents used in the study. 6. Inability to discontinue medications that are likely to interfere with ML NK cell activity, i.e., glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressants. 7. Presence of significant anti-donor HLA antibodies per institutional standards. Anti-donor HLA - Antibody Testing is defined as a positive crossmatch test of any titer (by complement dependent cytotoxicity or flow cytometric testing) or the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of any anti-donor HLA antibody by solid phase immunoassay \> 3000. 8. Presence of a second major disorder deemed a contraindication for HCT. 9. Patients with Fanconi Anemia or Down Syndrome. 10. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection (bacterial, viral with clinical instability, or fungal), symptomatic congestive heart failure, or unstable cardiac arrhythmia. 11. Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of the start of conditioning. Donor Eligibility Criteria - Both Cohorts 1. The preferred donor should be an adult aged 18 years or older. However, in circumstances where no suitable adult donor is available, consideration may be given to a minor donor aged 12 years or older. This exception only applies when all identified, otherwise eligible adult donors meet one or more of the following criteria: * A medical condition that poses unacceptable risk, including autoimmune disease, infection, hematologic disorder, malignancy or a pathogenic germline mutation. * Comorbidities that preclude safe administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), placement of a pheresis catheter and/or stem cell collection. * Served as donor in prior haploidentical HCT. * Significant psychosocial or logistical barriers. 2. Donor must be HLA haploidentical (≥ 5/10 and ≤ 9/10 allele match at the -A, -B, -C, DRB1 and DQ loci) by high resolution typing and related to the patient. 3. Donor must meet the selection criteria as defined by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy (FACT). 4. Donor must be available and willing to undergo one mobilized and one non-mobilized leukapheresis procedure. 5. Donor may not be pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days prior to initiation of recipient's conditioning regimen, within 7 days of donor stem cell mobilization regimen and prior to second non-mobilized leukapheresis.. 6. Donor must be able to understand and willing to sign an IRB-approved written informed consent document.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Rabbit Anti thymocyte globulin

rATG is administered intravenously over 6-18 hours for a total of 2 to 3 doses. The daily dose is based on body weight and lymphocyte count.

DRUG

Busulfan

Busulfan is administered intravenously either Q6H or Q24H, with a recommended target Busulfan AUC of 70-90 mg\*h/L.

DRUG

Fludarabine

Fludarabine is administered intravenously at a dose of 40 mg/m\^2/dose once daily for 4 days.

DRUG

Thiotepa

Thiotepa is administered intravenously at a dose of 5 mg/kg/dose Q12H for 2 doses.

DRUG

Melphalan

Melphalan is administered intravenously at a dose of 70 mg/m\^2/dose once daily for 2 days.

BIOLOGICAL

TCR alpha beta / CD19+ depleted haploidentical hematopoietic progenitor cell graft

The HPC product obtained from a haploidentical donor will undergo ex vivo TCR alpha beta and CD19+ depletion, and will be infused fresh on Day 0. There is no maximum limit for CD34+ dose. A maximum dose of 1 x 10\^5/kg recipient weight of TCRαβ cells should not be exceeded in the final HPC product.

BIOLOGICAL

memory-like natural killer cells

The ML NK cells (dose: max capped at 20 x 10\^6/kg recipient weight, minimum dose allowed is 0.5 x 10\^6/kg recipient weight) will be infused on Day +7.

BIOLOGICAL

IL-2

IL-2 is administered subcutaneously at a dose of 1 million units/m\^2 on Days +7, +9, +11, +13, +15, +17, and +19 (7 doses total).

DRUG

Plerixafor

If suboptimal collection of stem cells is predicted, plerixafor may be administered at a dose of 0.24 mg/kg subcutaneous injection once (maximum 40mg/dose). For patients with renal impairment, plerixafor will be administered at a dose of 0.16 mg/kg subcutaneous injection (maximum 27 mg/day).

BIOLOGICAL

Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

G-CSF will be administered at a dose of 10 mcg/kg/day for 5 days, or 6 days if two days of collection are needed.

DEVICE

CliniMACS

After stem cells are collected by leukapheresis, in order to create the HPC product, the stem cells will be washed to remove platelets and the cell concentration will be adjusted per laboratory and CliniMACS technology recommendations. The cells are then labeled using the CliniMACS TCRαβ Biotin Kit and CD19+ immunomagnetic microbeads. After labeling, the cells are washed to remove unbound microbeads. The partially processed product is loaded on the CliniMACS device where labeled cells are depleted and the negative fraction is eluted off the device. The negative fraction is centrifuged and volume reconstituted to obtain the final product.

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.

Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06158828), the sponsor (Washington University School of Medicine), 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 NCT06158828 clinical trial studying?

This trial represents a single institution phase I/II pilot study with the primary objective of establishing the safety and feasibility of generating and infusing ML NK cells after TCRαβ haplo-HCT. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06158828?

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 NCT06158828?

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 NCT06158828. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06158828. 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 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.