Adaptive Phase 1/2 Study of Dual-Target CAR-NK Cells in Relapsed/Refractory Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) (DART-NK-SCLC)

March 14, 2026 updated by: Beijing Biotech

A Phase 1/2 Adaptive Dose-Escalation and Expansion Study of Dual-Targeting Chimeric Antigen Receptor Natural Killer (CAR-NK) Cells Directed Against DLL3, CD56 (NCAM1), and/or GD2 in Adults With Relapsed/Refractory Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study is an open-label, multi-center, adaptive Phase 1/2 trial evaluating the safety, feasibility, and preliminary antitumor activity of allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cell products in adults with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Three candidate dual-target constructs (DLL3/CD56, DLL3/GD2, and CD56/GD2) will be assessed during dose escalation; a pre-specified interim assessment will select the most suitable construct to proceed into an expansion cohort at the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Rationale: SCLC is characterized by rapid progression, early relapse after platinum-based therapy, and antigen heterogeneity. DLL3, CD56 (NCAM1), and GD2 are frequently evaluated SCLC-associated surface targets. Dual-target CAR designs may reduce antigen-escape risk compared with single-target approaches. Investigational products: Three off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-NK cell products are evaluated. Each product is manufactured from healthy-donor NK cells and engineered to express a dual-target CAR plus a safety switch (e.g., inducible caspase-9) and a persistence support element (e.g., IL-15 support). The exact construct features can be adapted to the sponsor's platform. Study schema: (1) Screening and biomarker assessment, including tumor antigen profiling for DLL3, CD56, and GD2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or validated equivalent assay. (2) Phase 1 dose escalation in up to three parallel arms (one arm per dual-target construct) using a modified 3+3 design to determine MTD and/or RP2D. (3) Interim construct selection based on a composite of safety (DLT rate), manufacturability/feasibility, in vivo expansion/persistence, and preliminary efficacy. (4) Phase 2 expansion cohort treated with the selected construct at RP2D to further characterize safety and estimate antitumor activity. Conditioning and dosing: Participants receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy (e.g., fludarabine and cyclophosphamide) followed by CAR-NK infusion(s). Because NK-cell persistence can be limited, repeat dosing within a cycle is permitted (e.g., Day 0, Day 7, Day 14), and a second cycle may be allowed in responders without prohibitive toxicity. Safety monitoring: Participants are monitored for cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), infusion reactions, cytopenias, infections, and other adverse events. An independent safety monitoring committee reviews cumulative safety at each dose level and prior to construct selection. Follow-up: Clinical follow-up continues for 24 months for efficacy and late toxicity. Long-term follow-up for gene-modified cell products (up to 15 years) may be conducted per local regulatory requirements to monitor delayed adverse events.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • China
    • Guangdong
      • Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, 518036

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 to 75 years at the time of consent.
  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that is metastatic, extensive-stage, or unresectable, and relapsed or refractory after at least 1 prior systemic regimen (must include a platinum-based regimen unless contraindicated).
  • At least one measurable lesion per RECIST v1.1.
  • ECOG performance status 0 to 1.
  • Adequate organ function (hematologic, renal, hepatic, and cardiac) as defined in the protocol (examples: ANC >= 1.0 x10^9/L, platelets >= 75 x10^9/L, creatinine clearance >= 50 mL/min, AST/ALT <= 3 x ULN, total bilirubin <= 1.5 x ULN).
  • Life expectancy >= 12 weeks.
  • Tumor tissue available (archival or fresh) for antigen profiling (DLL3, CD56/NCAM1, GD2).
  • Negative pregnancy test for persons of childbearing potential; agreement to use effective contraception for the protocol-defined duration.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active or uncontrolled CNS metastases or leptomeningeal disease (treated/stable CNS metastases may be allowed per protocol).
  • Prior treatment with CAR-T, CAR-NK, or other gene-modified cellular therapy within 6 months (or any prior therapy directed against the investigational target antigens if it would confound safety/efficacy assessment).
  • Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant within 6 months or active graft-versus-host disease.
  • Active uncontrolled infection, including uncontrolled HIV, active hepatitis B or C with viremia, or active tuberculosis.
  • Clinically significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., recent myocardial infarction within 6 months, uncontrolled arrhythmia, LVEF < 45%).
  • Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppression; chronic systemic corticosteroid use > 10 mg/day prednisone equivalent (unless for physiologic replacement).
  • Concurrent malignancy requiring active treatment (exceptions may apply for certain non-melanoma skin cancers or in situ cancers).
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would make participation unsafe or interfere with compliance.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: DLL3/CD56 Dual-Target CAR-NK (EB-DART-NK01)
Allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cells targeting DLL3 and CD56 (NCAM1) following lymphodepleting chemotherapy.
Biological: EB-DART-NK01 (DLL3/CD56 CAR-NK cells)
EB-DART-NK01 (DLL3/CD56 CAR-NK cells)
Drug: Lymphodepleting chemotherapy
(fludarabine + cyclophosphamide)
Experimental: DLL3/GD2 Dual-Target CAR-NK (EB-DART-NK02)
Allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cells targeting DLL3 and GD2 following lymphodepleting chemotherapy.
Biological: EB-DART-NK01 (DLL3/CD56 CAR-NK cells)
EB-DART-NK01 (DLL3/CD56 CAR-NK cells)
Drug: Lymphodepleting chemotherapy
(fludarabine + cyclophosphamide)
Experimental: CD56/GD2 Dual-Target CAR-NK (EB-DART-NK03)
Allogeneic dual-target CAR-NK cells targeting CD56 (NCAM1) and GD2 following lymphodepleting chemotherapy
Biological: EB-DART-NK01 (DLL3/CD56 CAR-NK cells)
EB-DART-NK01 (DLL3/CD56 CAR-NK cells)
Drug: Lymphodepleting chemotherapy
(fludarabine + cyclophosphamide)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Maximum tolerated dose (MTD)
Time Frame: 12 months
12 months
Incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs)
Time Frame: 28 Days
28 Days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Overall survival (OS)
Time Frame: 24 months
24 months
Progression-free survival (PFS)
Time Frame: 24 months
24 months
Objective response rate (ORR)
Time Frame: 12 months
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Beijing Biotech

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 2, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 14, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 17, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 14, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • EB-CARNK-SCLC-001

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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