Clinical Efficacy and Safety of NKT Cell Infusion in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumor

Phase 1/2 Study of Natural Killer T Cell Infusion in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumor

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a unique subset of lymphocytes that present a mixed T-NK phenotype. Our hypothesis is that Natural killer T cells may decrease the tumor burden and improve overall survival. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Natural killer T (NKT) cells are effective and safe in the treatment of patients with unresectable advanced solid tumor.

According to the Annual Report of Cancer Registration in China 2014, lung cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer and colorectal cancer have become the top 4 solid tumors with the highest morbidity and mortality rates. So far, the main treatment modalities for these tumors have been surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the effect of conventional therapy on advanced cancer is limited, tumor metastasis is the major cause of death in patients with advanced cancer. With the development of oncology and immunology in recent years, immunotherapy represents a novel path to obtain a durable and long-lasting response in cancer patients.

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a unique subset of lymphocytes that present a mixed T-NK phenotype. NKT cells are expanded conventionally from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by addition of a variety of cytokines in vitro culture. Our previous studies demonstrated that the expansion of NKT cells in a clinical usage scale from peripheral blood mononuclear cells is feasible. Those expanded NKT cells exhibit antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo (tumor -bearing nude mice) against a variety of tumor cells. Furthermore, intravenous infusion of a single dose of 4X10^9 NKT cells in mice has been proved safe.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NKT cells in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumor.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18 to 75 years, Male or Female
• Histological or cytologically diagnosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, or advanced gastric cancer, or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, or advanced colorectal cancer
• Patients' tumor tissue (formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) must be sufficient for diagnosis of cancer by a certified Laboratory of Pathology
• Laboratory values within the following ranges prior to receiving treatment of study agent: Hemoglobin≧11.0 g/dL, Neutrophils count≧1.5×l09/L, Lymphocytes count≧lower limit of institutional normal, Platelet count≧80×l09/L, Serum creatinine≦2.0 mg/dL, Serum bilirubin≦2 x upper limit of institutional normal, AST/ALT≦2 x upper limit of institutional normal
• No dyspnea at rest. Oxygen saturation ≥90% on room air
• Able to tolerate apheresis procedure including placement of temporary apheresis catheter
• No genetic disease
• No chemotherapy and radiation therapy to be planned recently
• Fertile females/males must consent to use contraceptives during participation of the trial. Women of child bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test prior to receiving treatment of study agent within 7 days
• Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status greater than or equal to 80%
• Life expectancy greater than twelve months
• Able and willing to give witnessed, written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure
• Agree that progress of the disease must be radiographically measurable by computerized tomography (CT) scanning technique or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (per RECIST1.1 criteria)
• Agrees to participate in long-term follow-up for up to 3 years, if received NKT infusion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Organ dysfunction defined as follows: Significant cardiovascular disease (i.e. New York Heart Association [NYHA] class 3 congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within the past six months, unstable angina, coronary angioplasty within the past six months, uncontrolled atrial or ventricular cardiac arrhythmias; Child-Pugh C; Renal function failure or uremia; Respiratory failure; Disturbance of consciousness
• Suffering from lymphoma or leukemia
• Serious infections requiring antibiotics, bleeding disorders
• Patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• History of immunodeficiency disease or autoimmune disease
• Known or suspected allergy to the investigational agent or any agent given in association with this trial
• Known central nervous system tumors including metastatic brain disease, unless treated and stable
• Other malignancy within 3 years prior to entry into the study
• Negative HIV antigen and antibody, Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis C PCR within 21 days prior to enrollment
• Patients with chronic disease which is undergoing immune reagents or hormone therapy
• Previous bone marrow or stem cell transplant, or organ allograft
• Within concurrent chemotherapy
• Concomitant treatment with corticosteroids (Topical or inhalational corticosteroids are permitted)
• Concurrent other medical condition that would prevent the patient from undergoing protocol-based therapy
• Participation in any other clinical trial involving another investigational agent within 4 weeks prior to first dose of study agent
• Pregnant or breast-feeding patients
• Mental impairment or addictive disorders that may compromise the ability to give informed consent
• Lack of availability of a patient for immunological and clinical follow-up assessment