The goal of this research study is to test if the combination of a new T cell therapy (dendritic cell (DC) / acute myeloid leukemia (AML) primed T cells), vaccine (DC/AML fusion vaccine) and standard of care decitabine and venetoclax is feasible and safe and effective for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The names of the study drugs involved in this study are:

• DC/AML fusion vaccine (immune cell vaccine)
• Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (a type of growth factor or hormone)
• DC/AML Primed T cells (immune cells)
• Decitabine (a type of chemotherapy drug)
• Venetoclax (a type of antineoplastic agent)

The study is a dose escalation phase I clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility, safety, clinical and immune effects of adoptive T cell therapy with DC/AML Primed T cells in participants with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with decitabine and venetoclax.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved DC/AML Vaxprimed T cells as a treatment for any disease. This is the first time that DC/AML Primed T cells will be given to humans.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved DC/AML fusion vaccine as a treatment for any disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved GM-CSF, decitabine and venetoclax as treatment options for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

It is expected that about 30 people will take part in this research study

Inclusion Criteria Prior to Tumor Collection

• Patients must have AML at initial diagnosis for which decitabine/venetoclax is planned as standard of care therapy. This can include patients with IDH or FLT-3 mutations for whom the addition of targeted therapy agents directed at IDH or FLT-3 mutations to the decitabine/venetoclax regimen is preferred per the treating physician.

• Patients with AML in first relapse after cytotoxic and/or targeted therapy for which decitabine and venetoclax therapy is appropriate standard of care. This can include patients with IDH or FLT-3 mutations for whom the addition of targeted therapy agents directed at IDH or FLT-3 mutations to the decitabine/venetoclax regimen is preferred per the treating physician.

• ECOG performance status ≤ 2 (Appendix A)

• Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

  • total bilirubin≤ 2.0 mg/dL
  • AST/ALT ≤ 3 × institutional upper limit of normal
  • creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dl

• The effects of vaccine stimulated T cells on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.

• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria Prior to Tumor Collection

• Patients diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia
• Patients treated at initial diagnosis who are appropriate for intensive induction therapy.
• Patients with active systemic autoimmune disease requiring ongoing systemic therapy are excluded. The following is an exception to this criterion: subjects with hypothyroidism (eg, following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement. Patients with paraneoplastic auto-immune manifestations related to AML are allowed.
• Patients who have received a prior allogeneic transplant will be excluded.
• Because of compromised cellular immunity, patients who have active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), untreated hepatitis C virus (HCV) or evidence of active hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• Patients must not have active significant cardiac disease characterized by symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia.
• Patients must not be pregnant. All premenopausal patients will undergo pregnancy testing. Men will agree to not father a child while on protocol treatment. Men and women will practice effective birth control while receiving protocol treatment.

Inclusion Criteria Prior to Leukapheresis

• Patients must have obtained a response of PR or better to decitabine and venetoclax as defined in Section 11.

• Resolution of all HMA/venetoclax related grade III-IV toxicity as per CTC criteria 4.0, other than grade 3 anemia.

• Laboratories:

  • ANC ≥ 1,000/µL
  • Platelets ≥ 50,000/uL
  • Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
  • Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
  • AST/ALT ≤ 3.0 x ULN

Exclusion Criteria Prior to Leukapheresis

• Patients must not have serious intercurrent illness such as infection requiring IV antibiotics, or significant cardiac disease characterized by significant arrhythmia, ischemic coronary disease or congestive heart failure
• Patients who, with their treating physician, choose to proceed with an allogeneic transplant at the time of remission will not be eligible for leukapheresis
• Patients with active systemic autoimmune disease requiring ongoing systemic therapy are excluded. The following is an exception to this criterion: subjects with hypothyroidism (eg, following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement. Patients with paraneoplastic auto-immune manifestations related to AML are permitted.
• Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days prior to first T cell infusion. The following are exceptions to this criterion: intranasal, inhaled, topical or local steroid injections (eg. intra-articular injection); steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions; systemic corticosteroid at physiologic doses not to exceed 10mg/day of prednisone or equivalent
• Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), untreated hepatitis C virus (HCV) or evidence of active hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• Female subjects who are pregnant, breast-feeding or female patients of reproductive potential who are not employing an effective method of birth control from starting treatment, including dosing interruptions through 90 days after last dose of treatment. Refrain from egg cell donation while receiving vaccination and for at least 90 days after the last dose of treatment.
• Male subjects who are not employing an effective method of birth control from starting vaccine, including dosing interruptions through 90 days after receipt of the last dose of treatment. Refrain from sperm cell donation while receiving vaccination and for at least 90 days after the last dose of treatment.

Inclusion Criteria Prior to Treatment with DC/AML Primed T cells and DC/AML fusion vaccine

• Patient completed 4 cycles of decitabine and venetoclax without evidence of disease recurrence or progression

• Resolution of all chemotherapy related grade III-IV toxicity as per CTC criteria 4.0, other than grade 3 anemia, at the time of initiation of cycle 5, 6, or 7 of decitabine/venetoclax therapy.

• Laboratories:

  • ANC ≥ 1,000/µL
  • Platelets ≥ 50,000/uL
  • Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
  • Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
  • AST/ALT ≤ 3.0 x ULN

• Generation of adequate yield of T cells to meet dosing requirement

The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to: [contact information for Sponsor Investigator or designee]. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

Data can be shared no earlier than 1 year following the date of publication

Contact the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Technology Ventures Office at tvo@bidmc.harvard.edu