Tests emapalumab to prevent CAR-T treatment side effects in lymphoma
Tests emapalumab to prevent CAR-T related cytokine release syndrome in adults with lymphoma.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Marcela V. Maus, M.D.,Ph.D.
- Where
- Boston, United StatesSee the 2 sites
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Emapalumab Prevention of CAR-T Cell Associated Toxicities
- Status
- Recruiting
- Phase
- Phase 2
- People taking part
- 28 people, planned
- Started
- 18 Sept 2024
- Expected to end
- 1 Aug 2028
- Type of study
- Interventional, 4 groups
- Treatments tested
- Emapalumab
- Cyclophosphamide
- Fludarabine Phosphate
- Axicabtagene Ciloleucel
- Dexamethasone
- Lisocabtagene maraleucel
- Record updated
- 6 October 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with large B-cell lymphoma that came back or did not respond to earlier treatment. It tests emapalumab to help prevent side effects of CAR-T cell therapy.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Large B-cell lymphoma that did not respond to first-line chemoimmunotherapy, or came back within 12 months of it. Or lymphoma that came back or did not respond after 2 or more lines of treatment. At least 1 measurable lesion is needed.
- Earlier treatment
- Either first-line chemoimmunotherapy that failed, or 2 or more lines of systemic therapy. No allogeneic stem cell transplant ever. No autologous stem cell transplant within 6 weeks of the planned CAR-T infusion.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Another cancer in the past, except some skin cancers or carcinoma in situ, unless disease free for at least 3 years
- Active lymphoma in the brain or spinal cord, or certain brain disorders such as seizures or stroke within 6 months
- Uncontrolled infection, or active hepatitis B or C
- Heart attack, stenting or other significant heart disease within 12 months
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 25 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or that relapses within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy. Or adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma
- At least 1 measurable lesion per Lugano at time of screening
- Age 18 or older
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2
- Adequate renal, hepatic, pulmonary and cardiac function defined as:; ANC ≥1000/uL; Platelet count ≥50,000/uL; Absolute lymphocyte count ≥100/uL; Creatinine clearance (as estimated by Cockcroft Gault or CKD-EPI) ≥ 30 mL/min; Serum ALT/AST ≤2.5 per institutional ULN; Total bilirubin ≤1.5 mg/dl, except in subjects with Gilbert's syndrome; Cardiac ejection fraction ≥ 40%, no clinically significant pericardial effusion, and no clinically significant ECG findings; Baseline oxygen saturation >92% on room air
- Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (females who have undergone surgical sterilization or who have been postmenopausal for at least 2 years are not considered to be of childbearing potential)
- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
Who cannot take part
- Autologous stem cell transplant within 6 weeks of planned CAR-T infusion
- No evidence of active CNS disease regardless of prior CNS history
- Receipt of a BCG vaccine within 12 weeks prior to Screening
- Receipt of a live or attenuated live (other than BCG) vaccine within 4 weeks prior to screeing
- Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents for this condition
- History of malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ (e.g. cervix, bladder, breast) or follicular lymphoma unless disease free for at least 3 years
- History of allogeneic stem cell transplantation
- Presence of uncontrolled fungal, bacterial, viral, or other infection at time of screening
- Known history of acute or chronic active hepatitis B or C infection. Subjects with history of hepatitis infection must have cleared their infection as determined by standard serological and genetic testing per current Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines; Patients should also be negative for latent Tb, CMV (NAT), EBV (NAT) and adenovirus (NAT) by PCR testing
- History or presence of CNS disorder such as seizure disorder, cerebrovascular ischemia/hemorrhage within 6 months of enrollment
- History of myocardial infarction, cardiac angioplasty or stenting, unstable angina, or other clinically significant cardiac disease within 12 months of enrollment
- History of symptomatic pulmonary embolism within 3 months of enrollment; ongoing anticoagulation is allowed if beyond 3 months
- Any medical condition likely to interfere with assessment of safety or efficacy of study treatment
- History of allergic reactions or severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction to any of the agents used in this study or compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition
- History of autoimmune disease requiring ongoing systemic immunosuppression. Steroids are allowed up to 5mg predinosine-equivalent for adrenal insufficiency
- Patients anticipated to require canakinumab, JAK inhibitors, TNF inhibitors, and tocilizumab for non-CAR-T management of baseline autoimmune/inflammatory disease at the time of emapalumab initiation
- Females who are pregnant or breastfeeding or female or male participants who are not willing to practice birth control from the time of consent through 6 months after the completion of CAR-T
- In the investigators judgment, the subject is unlikely to complete all protocol-required study visits or procedures, including follow-up visits, or comply with the study requirements for participation
Where in United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteBoston, United StatesContact: Caron Jacobson, MDNot yet recruiting
- Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, United StatesContact: Matthew Frigault, MDTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
This research study involves assessing the impact of emapalumab as preventative management of CAR-T related cytokine release syndrome in participants with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
Read full original descriptionShow less
The research study involves the following study interventions:
* Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy) * Axicabtagene Ciloleucel or Lisocabtagene Maraleucel * Emapalumab
The 4 groups in the trial
- Cohort 1aTreatment being tested
Leukapheresis will happen within approximately 5 days of eligibility confirmation. Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine will occur once a day for 3 days (Days -5 through Day -3) by intravenous infusion over about 2-4 hours. Patients will receive emapalumab 3mg/kg on day -1. FDA Approved CAR-T will be given once on Day 0 by intravenous infusion over about 30 minutes.
Treatment: Emapalumab, Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine Phosphate, and Axicabtagene Ciloleucel
- Cohort 1bTreatment being tested
Leukapheresis will happen within approximately 5 days of eligibility confirmation. Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine will occur once a day for 3 days (Days -5 through Day -3) by intravenous infusion over about 2-4 hours. FDA Approved CAR-T will be given once on Day 0 by intravenous infusion over about 30 minutes. Patients will start dexamethasone 10mg PO daily starting on day 0 through day +2. Patients will receive emapalumab 3mg/kg on day +1.
Treatment: Emapalumab, Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine Phosphate, Axicabtagene Ciloleucel, and Dexamethasone
- Cohort 2aTreatment being tested
Leukapheresis will happen within approximately 5 days of eligibility confirmation. Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine will occur once a day for 3 days (Days -5 through Day -3) by intravenous infusion over about 2-4 hours. Patients will receive emapalumab 3mg/kg on day -1. Lisocabtagene maraleucel will be given once on Day 0 by intravenous infusion over about 30 minutes.
Treatment: Emapalumab, Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine Phosphate, and Lisocabtagene maraleucel
- Cohort 2bTreatment being tested
Leukapheresis will happen within approximately 5 days of eligibility confirmation. Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine will occur once a day for 3 days (Days -5 through Day -3) by intravenous infusion over about 2-4 hours. Lisocabtagene maraleucel will be given once on Day 0 by intravenous infusion over about 30 minutes. Patients will start dexamethasone 10mg PO daily starting on day 0 through day +2. Patients will receive emapalumab 3mg/kg on day +1.
Treatment: Emapalumab, Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine Phosphate, Dexamethasone, and Lisocabtagene maraleucel
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- A Phase 2 Trial of Emapalumab for the Prevention of CAR-T Cell Associated Toxicities
- Plain-language title
- Tests emapalumab to prevent CAR-T treatment side effects in lymphomaGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 6 October 2026