Haploidentical Donor Natural Killer Cell Infusion With IL-15 in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

Haploidentical Donor Natural Killer (NK) Cell Infusion With Intravenous Recombinant Human IL-15 (rhIL-15) in Adults With Refractory or Relapsed Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

This is a single center, "modified standard design" dose escalation study designed to determine the maximum tolerated, minimum efficacious dose (MTD/MED) of IL-15 (Intravenous Recombinant Human IL-15) and incidence of donor natural killer (NK) cell expansion by day +14 when given after haploidentical donor NK cells in patients with relapse or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Preparative Regimen; Biological: Intravenous Recombinant Human IL-15 (rhIL-15)

Detailed Description

Once the MTD/MED for IL-15 is determined, this cohort will be expanded to a total of 19 patients. The primary goal of this extended phase will be to establish a correlation of the clinical endpoint, CRp defined as leukemic clearance (< 5% marrow blast and no peripheral blood blasts) and neutrophil recovery without platelet recovery, with in vivo expansion.

Patients achieving a complete remission and neutrophil recovery (ANC > 500) for at least 4 weeks will be considered for allogeneic transplant to prolong remission independent of this study.

All patients, including those who go on to transplant, will be followed to determine disease free survival, treatment related mortality, and time to relapse.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
      • Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥ 18 years of age

• Meets one of the following disease criteria:

  • Primary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) induction failure: no complete response (CR )after 2 or more induction attempts
  • Relapsed AML or Secondary AML (from MDS or treatment-related): not in CR after 1 or more cycles of standard induction therapy. For patients > 60 years of age the 1 cycle of standard chemotherapy is not required if either of the following is met:
• relapse within 6 months of last chemotherapy

• blast count <30% within 10 days of starting protocol

  • AML relapsed > 2 months after transplant who do not have the option of donor lymphocyte infusions (e.g. recipients of autologous or umbilical cord blood [UCB] transplants)

Patients with prior central nervous system (CNS) involvement are eligible provided that it has been treated and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is clear for at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment. CNS therapy (chemotherapy or radiation) should continue as medically indicated during the study treatment.

• Available related HLA-haploidentical donor (3-5 of 6 HLA-A, B and C)
• Karnofsky Performance Status > 50%

• Adequate organ function defined as:

  • Creatinine: ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
  • Hepatic: Liver function tests (LFT's) < 5 times upper limit of institutional normal (ULN)
  • Pulmonary Function: oxygen saturation ≥ 90% on room air and pulmonary function >50% corrected DLCO and FEV1 Testing required only if symptomatic or prior known impairment.
  • Cardiac Function: Ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 40%, no uncontrolled angina, severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, or electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities
• Able to be off prednisone or other immunosuppressive medications for at least 3 days prior to Natural Killer (NK) cell infusion (excluding preparative regimen pre-medications)
• Women of child bearing potential and men with partners of child bearing potential must agree to use effective contraception during therapy and for 4 months after completion of therapy.
• Voluntary written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bi-phenotypic acute leukemia
• Transplant < 60 days prior to study enrollment
• Pregnant or breastfeeding - The agents used in this study include those that fall under Pregnancy Category D - have known teratogenic potential. Women of child bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of study treatment start
• Active autoimmune disease
• History of severe asthma, presently on chronic medications (a history of mild asthma not requiring therapy is eligible)
• New or progressive pulmonary infiltrates on screening chest x-ray or chest CT scan that has not been evaluated with bronchoscopy, if feasible. Infiltrates attributed to infection must be stable/improving (with associated clinical improvement) after 1 week of appropriate therapy (4 weeks for presumed or documented fungal infections). Surgical resection waives any waiting requirements.
• Uncontrolled bacterial or viral infections - chronic asymptomatic viral hepatitis is allowed
• Pleural effusion large enough to be detectable on chest x-ray
• Known hypersensitivity to any of the study agents used
• Received investigational drugs within the 14 days before enrollment
• Known active CNS involvement

Criteria For Initial Donor Selection:

• Related donors (sibling, parent, offspring, parent or offspring of an HLA identical sibling)
• 14-75 years of age
• At least 40 kilogram body weight
• In general good health as determined by the evaluating medical provider
• HLA-haploidentical donor/recipient match (low resolution)
• Not pregnant
• Agree to undergo donor viral screening panel
• Able and willing to undergo apheresis
• Voluntary written consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: IL-15 Patients with AML; Adults with Refractory or Relapsed Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) treated with preparative regimen and Intravenous Recombinant Human IL-15 (rhIL-15)

Drug: Preparative Regimen; Fludarabine 25 mg/m^2 x 5 days start day -6, Cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg x 2 days on day -5 and -4 (*if < 4 months from prior transplant, omit day -4 dose); Other Names: Fludara; Cytoxan; Biological: Intravenous Recombinant Human IL-15 (rhIL-15); IL-15 at assigned dose (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 1, 2 and 3 mcg/kg for 3 to 6 patients) intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes once a day beginning day +1 and continuing for 12 doses; Other Names: IL-15

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximum Tolerated/Minimum Efficacious Dose	Determine the maximum tolerated, minimum efficacious dose (MTD/MED) of recombinant human IL-15; dose limiting toxicity (DLT) occurring during the first 42 days after the NK cell infusion; MED = if 2 of 3 patients or 4 of 6 patients has an in vivo NK cell count >2500, then dose escalation with cease as it will be in the range of a biologic dose which may achieve the goal of in vivo expansion without pushing IL-15 doses higher to toxicity.	Day 42

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of Expansion of Natural Killer Cells	defined by measuring an absolute circulating donor-derived NK cell count of >100 cells/μl in the patient's peripheral blood by day +14 after the NK cell infusion.	Day 14 after Infusion
Treatment Related Mortality (TRM)	In the field of transplantation, toxicity is high and all deaths without previous relapse or progression are usually considered as related to transplantation.	Day 1 of Treatment until Day of Death
Rate of CRp	defined as leukemia clearance (< 5% marrow blasts and no peripheral blood blasts) and neutrophil recovery without platelet recovery.	Day 28-42

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jeffrey S Miller, MD, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Cooley S, He F, Bachanova V, Vercellotti GM, DeFor TE, Curtsinger JM, Robertson P, Grzywacz B, Conlon KC, Waldmann TA, McKenna DH, Blazar BR, Weisdorf DJ, Miller JS. First-in-human trial of rhIL-15 and haploidentical natural killer cell therapy for advanced acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Adv. 2019 Jul 9;3(13):1970-1980. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018028332.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 29, 2011
• First Posted (Estimated): June 30, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: haploidentical donor; natural killer cells; acute myelogenous leukemia
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Hematologic Diseases; Bone Marrow Diseases; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2010LS063; MT2010-10 (Other Identifier: Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation Program); 1009M89012 (Other Identifier: IRB, University of Minnesota)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes