This is a Phase I clinical trial being conducted in humans for the first time, aiming to evaluate a novel cell therapy called NEUK203-13 Injection for the treatment of patients with advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who have failed systematic therapy or late stage neuroendocrine tumors(NETs). The primary goal of the study is to determine the safety and tolerability of this new therapy and to preliminarily observe its anti-tumor effects. NEUK203-13 Injection is an "off-the-shelf" CAR-NK cell therapy developed based on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, targeting the DLL3 protein highly expressed in SCLC or other neuroendocrine tumors(NETs) . Primary Objective Primary Endpoint aims to evaluate safety and tolerability Secondary Endpoints aim to preliminarily observe efficacy and investigate the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the body. Two pre-set dose levels are planned, with an enrollment of 7-9 patients. Treatment Regimen 1. Lymphodepletion Conditioning: Chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide + Fludarabine) before cell infusion to clear lymphocytes in the body. 2. Cell Infusion: NEUK203-13 is administered via intravenous infusion, d1,d4 and d7 for three doses. 3. Supportive Medication: Concurrent use of IL-2 (Interleukin-2) d1, d4, d7 and d10 to support NK cell persistence. Target Patient Population Patients with advanced SCLC who have progressed after prior platinum-based chemotherapy or late stage neuroendocrine tumors(NETs) and have a relatively good performance status. Key Monitoring Focus Close monitoring of risks specific to cell therapy, such as Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS). In short, this study represents the first clinical exploration of NEUK203-13 Injection in patients with advanced small cell lung cancer or other neuroendocrine tumors(NETs). Its primary focus is on safety, while simultaneously gathering preliminary signals on whether the therapy can control tumors, thereby laying the foundation for subsequent clinical development.
NEUK203-13 Injection is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-natural killer (NK) cell therapy (CAR-NK) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Through site-specific gene editing, it expresses a CAR structure targeting Delta-like Protein 3 (DLL3). Specifically, the CAR construct is introduced into NK cells via transgenic engineering, enabling precise recognition and elimination of malignant/cancer cells expressing the specific antigen DLL3. Beyond CAR molecular transgenesis, an IL-15RF fusion gene is inserted at the CD38 locus to enhance the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of CAR-iNK cells. Additionally, the immune checkpoint receptor TIM3 is knocked out to improve resistance to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and a variant CD16 (vCD16, a cleavage-resistant CD16) is inserted to augment antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) when used in combination with therapeutic antibodies. Using clinical-scale production batches and processes, in vitro pharmacodynamic studies and evaluations of NEUK203-13 Injection were conducted across multiple dimensions, including: 1. Nonspecific cytotoxicity against target cells (human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562) at different process stages and in fresh bulk cells; 2. Specific cytotoxicity against tumor cells (small cell lung cancer cell lines SHP-77 and H82 with high DLL3 expression, and the human B-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line NALM6-DLL3 with stable exogenous DLL3 expression as target cells); 3. Cell viability post cryopreservation and thawing; 4. Cytotoxic activity (both nonspecific and specific) post cryopreservation and thawing. NEUK203-13 represents an iterative upgrade of the first-generation product NEUK200-13. The accelerated advancement of NEUK203-13 into clinical research is based on the established clinical safety data of NEUK200-13 and the superior preclinical data of NEUK203-13.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9
Intravenous infusion of NEUKIO203-13 d1,d4,d7 and IL-2 6 mIU d1,d4,d7 and d10 was administered following lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide combined with fludarabine.
Cancer Hospital of CICAMS
Beijing, China
RECRUITINGThe incidence and severity of Adverse Events (AEs) / Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) / Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs).
This endpoint aims to systematically monitor, record, and evaluate the safety profile of the study treatment by assessing the incidence, severity, duration, and causal relationship of Adverse Events (AEs), Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), and Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs) throughout the study period.
Time frame: 12 months
Detect the number of NEUK203-13 cells in peripheral blood and calculate the PK parameters.
Quantification of NEUK203-13 Cells in Peripheral Blood and Pharmacokinetic (PK) Parameter Calculation
Time frame: 12 months
Ratio of DLL3 expression in tumor tissues versus response rate
Correlation Analysis Between DLL3 Expression Ratio in Tumor Tissues and Clinical Response Rate
Time frame: 12 months
Objective Response Rate (ORR)
The proportion of evaluable patients who achieve a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) confirmed by two consecutive assessments separated by a minimum 4-week interval. CR is defined as the disappearance of all target and non-target lesions with no new lesions detected; PR refers to a ≥30% reduction in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions, with no progression of non-target lesions or new lesions. ORR will be calculated as the percentage of patients with CR or PR relative to the total evaluable study cohort.
Time frame: 12 months
Duration of Response (DoR)
The time interval from the first documentation of CR or PR (per the above criteria) to the first confirmed occurrence of disease progression (per RECIST v1.1) or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. For patients who maintain a response until the end of the study, DoR will be censored at the date of the last tumor assessment.
Time frame: 12 months
Disease Control Rate (DCR)
The percentage of evaluable patients whose disease is controlled, encompassing those with CR, PR, and stable disease (SD). SD is defined as neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for progressive disease, with the sum of target lesion diameters changing by \<30% (increase) and \<20% (decrease) from baseline. DCR will be calculated as the proportion of patients with CR, PR, or SD relative to the total evaluable cohort, with SD required to last for a minimum of the predefined assessment cycle to be included.
Time frame: 12 months
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