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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Orca-T Following Chemotherapy and Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

A Single Center, Non-Randomized, Phase 1b Study of Orca-T Following Escalated Dose of Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation in Patients With Acute Leukemias and MDS

Orca-T Following Chemotherapy and Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome (NCT06195891) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Acute Myeloid Leukemia, sponsored by City of Hope Medical Center. 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 trial tests the side effects and best dose of total marrow lymphoid irradiation along with chemotherapy, with fludarabine and melphalan, with or without thiotepa, in combination with Orca-T cells for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Total marrow and lymphoid irradiation is a targeted form of total body irradiation that uses intensity-modulated radiation therapy to target marrow, lymph node chains, and the spleen. It is designed to reduce radiation-associated side effects and maximize the radiation therapeutic effect. Giving chemotherapy with medications such as thiotepa, fludarabine, and melphalan before a treatment with stem cells helps kill cancer cells in the body and helps make room in the patient's bone marrow for new blood-forming cells (stem cells) to grow. Orca-T cells take cells from a donor and remove some of the T cells and replace them with partially engineered T cells in order to induce better tolerance in patients. Giving total marrow and lymphoid irradiation and chemotherapy followed by Orca -T cells may be an effective treatment for patients with AML, ALL or MDS.

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 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, 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 33 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: - Documented willing to sign a consent form of the participant - Agreement to allow the use of archival tissue from diagnostic bone marrow biopsies - If unavailable, exceptions may be granted with study primary investigator (PI) approval - Age: 60-75 years - Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70 - Eligible patients will have a histopathological confirmed diagnosis of hematologic malignancy in one of the following categories: - Acute myelogenous leukemia: - Patients with de novo or secondary disease in CR1 or more with European LeukemiaNet (ELN) intermediate or adverse risk category, or - Patients with active disease - Morphologically; or - Minimal residual disease (MRD) + (flow cytometry of ≥ 0.1%, next generation sequencing \[NGS\] or cytogenetics) - Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): - Patients with de novo or secondary disease according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for ALL hypoploidy (\< 44 chromosomes); t(v;11q23): MLL rearranged; t(9;22) (q34;q11.2); complex cytogenetics (5 or more chromosomal abnormalities); high white blood cell (WBC) at diagnosis (≥ 30,000 for B lineage or ≥ 50,000 for T lineage); iAMP21loss of 13q, and abnormal 17p; or - Patients with active disease: - Morphologically; or - MRD+ (flow cytometry of ≥ 0.1%, or cytogenetics) - Myelodysplastic syndrome in high-intermediate (int-2) and high risk categories per International Prognostic Scoring System Risk (IPSSR) - Serum direct (conjugated) bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dl performed within 30 days prior to day 1 - Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times the institutional upper limits of normal performed within 30 days prior to day 1. Patients with Gilberts disease are allowed - Creatinine clearance of ≥ 60 mL/min per 24 hour urine test or the Cockcroft-Gault formula performed within 30 days prior to day 1 ...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: * Documented informed consent of the participant * Agreement to allow the use of archival tissue from diagnostic bone marrow biopsies * If unavailable, exceptions may be granted with study primary investigator (PI) approval * Age: 60-75 years * Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70 * Eligible patients will have a histopathological confirmed diagnosis of hematologic malignancy in one of the following categories: * Acute myelogenous leukemia: * Patients with de novo or secondary disease in CR1 or more with European LeukemiaNet (ELN) intermediate or adverse risk category, or * Patients with active disease * Morphologically; or * Minimal residual disease (MRD) + (flow cytometry of ≥ 0.1%, next generation sequencing \[NGS\] or cytogenetics) * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): * Patients with de novo or secondary disease according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for ALL hypoploidy (\< 44 chromosomes); t(v;11q23): MLL rearranged; t(9;22) (q34;q11.2); complex cytogenetics (5 or more chromosomal abnormalities); high white blood cell (WBC) at diagnosis (≥ 30,000 for B lineage or ≥ 50,000 for T lineage); iAMP21loss of 13q, and abnormal 17p; or * Patients with active disease: * Morphologically; or * MRD+ (flow cytometry of ≥ 0.1%, or cytogenetics) * Myelodysplastic syndrome in high-intermediate (int-2) and high risk categories per International Prognostic Scoring System Risk (IPSSR) * Serum direct (conjugated) bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dl performed within 30 days prior to day 1 * Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times the institutional upper limits of normal performed within 30 days prior to day 1. Patients with Gilberts disease are allowed * Creatinine clearance of ≥ 60 mL/min per 24 hour urine test or the Cockcroft-Gault formula performed within 30 days prior to day 1 * Ejection fraction measured by echocardiogram or MUGA ≥ 50% performed within 30 days prior to day 1 * If able to perform pulmonary function tests: forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and carbon monoxide diffusing capability (DLCO) (diffusion capacity) ≥ 50% of predicted (corrected for hemoglobin). If unable to perform pulmonary function tests: oxygen (O2) saturation \> 92% on room air performed within 30 days prior to day 1 * Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): negative urine or serum pregnancy test performed within 30 days prior to day 1. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required * Agreement by females and males of childbearing potential\* to use an effective method of birth control or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through at least 6 months after the last dose of protocol therapy. * Childbearing potential defined as not being surgically sterilized (men and women) or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year (women only) * PATIENTS: Patients should have discontinued all previous intensive therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy for 2 weeks prior to commencing therapy on this study NOTE: Low dose chemotherapy or maintenance chemotherapy given within 7 days of planned study enrollment is permitted. These include hydroxyurea, 6-meraptopurine, oral methotrexate, vincristine, oral etoposide, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). FLT-3 inhibitors can also be given up to 3 days before conditioning regimen.) All patients with prior radiation treatment to the lung, liver, and kidney will be excluded. For other scenarios of prior radiation treatment, up to 2000 cGy at 2 Gy per day will be allowed. Inclusion of patients with previous radiation exposure will be determined based on the radiation oncologist medical doctor (MD) evaluation and judgment * DONORS: All candidates for this study must have an human leukocyte antigen (HLA) (A, B, C, and DR) identical sibling who is willing to donate mobilized peripheral blood stem cells or have a 10/10 (A, B, C, DR and DQ) allele matched unrelated donor (DQ or DP mismatch is allowed per discretion of the principal investigator), or haploidentical donor. City of Hope (COH) standard operating procedures (SOP) (B.001.11) will be used for allogeneic donor evaluation, selection, and consent. Donor screening will be in compliance with all requirements of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1271 including donor screening for COVID-19 exposure or infection Exclusion Criteria: * PATIENTS: Prior allogeneic stem cell transplant * PATIENTS: More than 3 prior lines of intensive chemotherapy, where the regimen intent was to induce remission * PATIENTS: Receiving any other investigational agents or concurrent biological, intensive chemotherapy or radiation therapy for the previous 2 weeks from conditioning NOTE: Low dose chemotherapy or maintenance chemotherapy given within 7 days of planned study enrollment is permitted. These include: Hydroxyurea, 6-meraptopurine, oral methotrexate, vincristine, oral etoposide, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). FLT-3 inhibitors can also be given up to 3 days before conditioning regimen * PATIENTS: History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study agent * PATIENTS: Having any uncontrolled illness including ongoing or active bacterial, viral or fungal infection requiring antibiotics * PATIENTS: Patients with other active malignancies are ineligible for this study, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer and prostate cancer. Patients with prior history of localized prostate cancer treated with curative intent regardless of time from the treatment to study entry, and patients with prostate cancer receiving active surveillance not requiring therapy are eligible * PATIENTS: The recipient has a medical problem or neurologic/psychiatric dysfunction which would impair his/her ability to be compliant with the medical regimen and to tolerate transplantation or would prolong hematologic recovery which in the opinion of the principal investigator would place the recipient at unacceptable risk * PATIENTS: Females only: Pregnant or breastfeeding * PATIENTS: Any other condition that would, in the Investigator's judgment, contraindicate the patient's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns with clinical study procedures * PATIENTS: Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with all study procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics)

Treatments Being Tested

PROCEDURE

Biospecimen Collection

Undergo blood sample collection

PROCEDURE

Bone Marrow Aspiration

Undergo bone marrow aspiration

PROCEDURE

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Undergo bone marrow biopsy

PROCEDURE

Dual-Energy Computed Tomography

Undergo DECT/MRI scan

PROCEDURE

Echocardiography

Undergo echocardiography

DRUG

Fludarabine

Given IV

PROCEDURE

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Undergo DECT/MRI scan

DRUG

Melphalan

Given IV

PROCEDURE

Multigated Acquisition Scan

Undergo MUGA scan

BIOLOGICAL

Partially Engineered T-regulatory Cell Donor Graft TRGFT-201

Given IV

DRUG

Tacrolimus

Given tacrolimus

DRUG

Thiotepa

Given IV

RADIATION

Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation

Undergo TMLI

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.

City of Hope Medical Center
Duarte, California, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06195891), the sponsor (City of Hope Medical Center), 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 NCT06195891 clinical trial studying?

This phase I trial tests the side effects and best dose of total marrow lymphoid irradiation along with chemotherapy, with fludarabine and melphalan, with or without thiotepa, in combination with Orca-T cells for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Total marrow and lymphoid irradiation is a targeted form of total body irradiation that uses intensity-modulated radiation therapy to target marrow, lymph node chains, and the spleen. It is designed to reduce radiation-associated side effects and maximize the radiation the… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06195891?

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 NCT06195891?

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 NCT06195891. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06195891. 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.