Allogeneic Second-generation CD19-CAR T Cells for Pediatric Relapsed/Refractory B-ALL

This is a phase 1, single-center, non-randomized, open-label, dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety, identify the recommended dose (RD) and obtain preliminar evidence of the efficacy of fresh, donor-derived, CD19-directed-second-generation CAR T cells (alloCART) in pediatric and young adults patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BCP-ALL) occurring either after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) or before alloHSCT, in case of refractory disease and availability of a HLA-fully matched donor.

Patient Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a diagnosis of CD19 expressing B ALL relapse, and one of the following:

• Relapse after alloHSCT OR
• Relapsed/refractory disease, with failure of frontline therapy and at least 2 rescue strategies, including CD19/CD22-directed monoclonal antibody and availability of a fully matched related donor.
• CD19+ count ≥ 50 cells/mcl and/or Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) ≥ 10^-4.
• Voluntary informed consent. For subjects < 18-years old their legal guardian must give informed consent. Pediatric subjects will be included in age-appropriate discussion and verbal assent will be obtained for those greater than or equal to 12 years of age, when appropriate.
• Clinical performance status: patients > 16 years of age: Karnofsky greater than or equal to 60%; patients ≤ 16 years of age: Lansky score than or equal to 60%.
• Patients of child-bearing or child-fathering potential must be willing to practice birth control from the time of enrollment on this study and for 4 months after receiving the lymphodepletion regimen.
• Females of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test because of the potentially dangerous effects on the fetus.

Patients Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Severe, uncontrolled active intercurrent infections.
• HIV, or active HCV and/or HBV infection.
• Life-expectancy < 6 weeks or rapidly progressive disease that in the evaluation of the investigator would compromise ability to complete study therapy.
• Hepatic function: inadequate liver function defined as total bilirubin > 4x upper limit of normal (ULN) or transaminase (ALT and AST) > 6x ULN.
• Renal function: serum creatinine >3x ULN for age.
• Blood oxygen saturation < 90%.
• Cardiac function: left ventricular ejection fraction lower than 45% by ECHO.
• Congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, psychiatric illness, or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or in the opinion of the PI would pose an unacceptable risk to the subject.
• Presence of active, grade 2-4 acute or chronic Graf versus Host Disease (GvHD) requiring steroid therapy or other immune-suppressive treatment.
• Relapse occurring before 60 days after alloHSCT.
• Concurrent or recent prior therapies, before infusion:

i. systemic steroids (at a dose of ≥ 2 mg/kg prednisone) in the 2 weeks before infusion of CD19-CAR_Lenti_ALLO cells . Recent or recurrent use of inhaled/topical/non-absorbable steroids is not exclusionary.

ii. systemic chemotherapy in the 2 weeks preceding infusion of CD19-CAR_Lenti_ALLO cells .

iii. anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or Alemtuzumab (Campath®)in the 8 weeks preceding infusion of CD19-CAR_Lenti_ALLO cells .

iv. immuno-suppressive agentis in the 2 weeks preceding infusion of CD19-CAR_Lenti_ALLO cells

v. radiation therapy must have been completed at least 2 weeks before infusion of CD19-CAR_Lenti_ALLO cells .

vi. other anti-neoplastic investigational agents currently administered or within 30 days prior to infusion of CD19-CAR_Lenti_ALLO cells (i.e, start of protocol therapy).

vii. Exceptions:

• there is no time restrictions in regards to intrathecal chemotherapy, but there must be a complete recovery from any acute toxic effects from such treatment.
• subjects receiving steroid therapy at physiologic replacement doses only are allowed provided that there has been no increase for at least 2 weeks to starting apheresis.

Donor Eligibility Criteria

Conventional criteria for the eligibility of allogeneic donors will be adopted for the evaluation of cell donors, before apheresis, as required by law.