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Bendamustine Versus Fludarabine/Cyclophosphamide for Lymphodepletion in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Immunotherapy (CAR-T): a Randomized Trial. (FC-BALANCE)

13 de maio de 2026 atualizado por: Swiss Cancer Institute

Bendamustine Versus Fludarabine/Cyclophosphamide for Lymphodepletion in CAR-T Therapy: a Randomized Trial

Bendamustine and the combination of fludarabine/cyclophosphamide are fully authorized chemotherapy agents in Switzerland for lymphoma treatment and currently used in routine clinical practice as lymphodepletion strategy before CAR-T immunotherapy, as supported by retrospective studies and clinical experience across multiple centers. None of the drugs described in this protocol are being used at unapproved doses, or in an investigational formulation. Both lymphodepletion regimens have a known safety profile and the risks and burdens imposed on participants do not exceed those encountered in routine CAR-T therapy management, as all procedures (including monitoring, supportive care, and follow-up assessments) align with standard clinical practice. Based on these assumptions, this protocol is designed to investigate the use of bendamustine as an alternative lymphodepletion therapy (which is a part of CAR-T immunotherapy protocol).

Visão geral do estudo

Descrição detalhada

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy (CAR-T) has emerged as an effective treatment for relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Three products that demonstrate clinical activities in relapse/refractory large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL), axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel, and lisocabtagene maraleucel are currently available. To ensure an optimal CAR-T cell expansion and proliferation inside the host once infused, lymphodepleting therapy is administered before CAR-T immunotherapy as it exerts its activities by generating the optimal cytokine and metabolites milieu to ensure engraftment and proliferation of CAR-T cells once infused, by removing anergic circulating lymphocytes responsible of the "cytokine sink effect", and by debulking immunosuppressive tumor masses by the time of CAR-T cell infusion. Nowadays, commercially approved CAR-T products use a combination of fludarabine (Flu) and cyclophosphamide (Cy), at different dosages, as the standard lymphodepletion regimen. After CAR-T cell infusion participants might experience several toxicities including hematological toxicities and resulting infective events, as a direct consequence of lymphodepleting chemotherapy infusion.

Furthermore, the participants can experience CAR-T specific toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), which are the consequence of the CAR-T cell to tumor engagement activity. In fact, these toxicities are responsible for more than 60% of non-relapse mortalities after CAR-T cells and their treatment increase the hospitalization stay and overall costs of CAR-T cell immunotherapy.

Therefore, there is a great need to improve the current CAR-T cell immunotherapy treatment to reduce the risk of toxicity. A growing number of retrospective studies demonstrated that bendamustine lymphodepletion is an alternative lymphodepletion regimen. In all these studies, bendamustine lymphodepletion showed comparable response rate but drastically reduced toxicities, in terms of CRS, neurotoxicity, hematological toxicity and, in particular, infections. As a result, its use is steadily increasing across Swiss centers. There are no published and other randomized trials, currently ongoing, investigating this particular question. For these reasons, bendamustine should be tested against the current SoC lymphodepleting chemotherapy.

This trial aims to prospectively compare the safety and efficacy of bendamustine versus standard Flu/Cy lymphodepletion before CART cell therapy in participants with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).

Tipo de estudo

Intervencional

Inscrição (Estimado)

92

Estágio

  • Fase 2

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Locais de estudo

      • Aarau, Suíça, 5001
        • Kantonsspital Aarau
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Martina Dickenmann, MD
      • Basel, Suíça, 4056
        • Universitätsspital Basel
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Andreas Holbro, MD
      • Bellinzona, Suíça, 6500
        • Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC)-Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana (IOSI)
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Georg Stüssi, Prof
      • Bern, Suíça, 3010
        • Inselspital Bern - Universitätsklinik für Medizinische Onkologie
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Marc Wehrli, MD
      • Chur, Suíça, 7000
        • Kantonsspital Graubunden
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Ulrich Mey, MD
      • Geneva, Suíça, 1211
        • Les hôpitaux universitaires de Genève
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Federico Simonetta, MD
      • Lucerne, Suíça, 6004
        • Luzerner Kantonsspital
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Ramona Merki, MD
      • Sankt Gallen, Suíça, 9007
        • HOCH Health Ostschweiz - Kantonsspital St. Gallen
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Martin Fehr, MD
      • Zurich, Suíça, 8032
        • Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie Hirslanden Zürich
        • Contato:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Christoph Renner, Prof

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Adulto
  • Adulto mais velho

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Não

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) with at least one line of previous treatment and indication for commercial CAR-T cell therapy as determined by the treating physician. This includes: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (NOS) and all specific DLBCL subtypes, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphoma, and other transformed indolent B-cell lymphomas (including transformed marginal zone lymphoma and Richter's transformation). Patients with primary or secondary central nervous system (CNS) involvement are eligible.
  • Planned treatment with commercially available CAR-T cell product
  • Age ≥18 years
  • Ability to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Administration of any other experimental drug within 5 half-lives or ≤ 4 weeks prior to lymphodepletion therapy starts.
  • Bendamustine 3 months before leukapheresis. After leukapheresis, bendamustine use is allowed as bridging therapy according to physician decision.
  • Previous administration of anti-CD19 CAR-T products within the last 12 months from lymphodepletion therapy start.
  • Known history of hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients found in the composition of bendamustine, fludarabine, or cyclophosphamide.

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

  • Finalidade Principal: Tratamento
  • Alocação: Randomizado
  • Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição Paralela
  • Mascaramento: Nenhum (rótulo aberto)

Armas e Intervenções

Grupo de Participantes / Braço
Intervenção / Tratamento
Experimental: Arm A: Experimental Arm
Bendamustine
  • Dose: 90 mg/m² body surface area
  • Route: Intravenous infusion
  • Administration: Infused over 30-60 minutes in 500 mL normal saline or 5% dextrose
  • Pre-medication: Standard institutional protocols for bendamustine administration (typically antiemetics)
Comparador Ativo: Arm B: Control Arm
Fludarabine/Cyclophosphamide
  • Administration: Intravenous infusion per institutional protocols and product guidelines.
  • Dose: according to the specification described in the prescription information sheet of the CAR-T product used.
  • Administration: Intravenous infusion per institutional protocols and product guidelines.
  • Dose: according to the specification described in the prescription information sheet of the CAR-T product used.

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Incidence of the following side effect occurring within 4 weeks (28 days) from the CAR-T infusion: Occurrence of grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS)
Prazo: From the start of lymphodepletion therapy until 4 weeks (day 28) after the CAR-T cell Infusion

Primary Outcome measure consists of 3 side effects: Incidence of at least one of the following side effects occurring within 4 weeks (28 days) from the CAR-T infusion: • Occurrence of grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) • Febrile neutropenia • Grade ≥3 Immune effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicit.

All infections, including those that result in febrile neutropenia, and the CRS and ICANS will be graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 6.0. Febrile neutropenia is defined as absolute neutrophil count <1000/mm³ with fever ≥38.3°C (single measurement) or ≥38.0°C sustained for >1 hour.

Participants who remain free of any of the above listed symptoms at least 28 days from the CAR-T cell infusion AND did not stop the trial treatment will be counted as a success for this endpoint, otherwise they will be counted as a failure for the primary endpoint.

From the start of lymphodepletion therapy until 4 weeks (day 28) after the CAR-T cell Infusion
Incidence of the following side effect occurring within 4 weeks (28 days) from the CAR-T infusion: Febrile neutropenia
Prazo: From the start of lymphodepletion therapy until 4 weeks (day 28) after the CAR-T cell Infusion

Primary Outcome measure consists of 3 side effects: Incidence of at least one of the following side effects occurring within 4 weeks (28 days) from the CAR-T infusion: • Occurrence of grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) • Febrile neutropenia • Grade ≥3 Immune effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicit.

All infections, including those that result in febrile neutropenia, and the CRS and ICANS will be graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 6.0. Febrile neutropenia is defined as absolute neutrophil count <1000/mm³ with fever ≥38.3°C (single measurement) or ≥38.0°C sustained for >1 hour.

Participants who remain free of any of the above listed symptoms at least 28 days from the CAR-T cell infusion AND did not stop the trial treatment will be counted as a success for this endpoint, otherwise they will be counted as a failure for the primary endpoint.

From the start of lymphodepletion therapy until 4 weeks (day 28) after the CAR-T cell Infusion
Incidence of the following side effect occurring within 4 weeks (28 days) from the CAR-T infusion: Grade ≥3 Immune effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicit
Prazo: From the start of lymphodepletion therapy until 4 weeks (day 28) after the CAR-T cell Infusion

All infections, including those that result in febrile neutropenia, and the CRS and ICANS will be graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 6.0. Febrile neutropenia is defined as absolute neutrophil count <1000/mm³ with fever ≥38.3°C (single measurement) or ≥38.0°C sustained for >1 hour.

Participants who remain free of any of the above listed symptoms at least 28 days from the CAR-T cell infusion AND did not stop the trial treatment will be counted as a success for this endpoint, otherwise they will be counted as a failure for the primary endpoint.

From the start of lymphodepletion therapy until 4 weeks (day 28) after the CAR-T cell Infusion

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Best lymphoma response at 3 months post-CAR-T infusion
Prazo: From the CAR-T infusion until week 15 (inclusive) post-CAR-T infusion
Best lymphoma response at 3 months is defined as the best response assessment in the following descending order: complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD) or not evaluable (NE), measured as indicated on local guidelines (e.g., Lugano 2014 classification) based on PET/CT imaging. Any assessment up to week 15 (inclusive) will be considered for determining the best response.
From the CAR-T infusion until week 15 (inclusive) post-CAR-T infusion
Progression-free survival (PFS)
Prazo: from CAR-T infusion to lymphoma progression or death, up to 3.25 years after CAR-T infusion of the first patient]
PFS is defined as time from CAR-T infusion to lymphoma progression or death from any cause. Participants not experiencing an event, including participants receiving a subsequent anti-lymphoma therapy without documented disease progression or relapse, will be censored at the last time they were known to be without progression (i.e. last date of tumor assessment without progression) and before the start of a new anti-lymphoma treatment, if any.
from CAR-T infusion to lymphoma progression or death, up to 3.25 years after CAR-T infusion of the first patient]
Overall survival (OS)
Prazo: From CAR-T infusion to death, up to 3.25 years after CAR-T infusion of the first patient
Time from CAR-T infusion to death from any cause. Participants not experiencing an event will be censored at the last date they were known to be alive.
From CAR-T infusion to death, up to 3.25 years after CAR-T infusion of the first patient

Colaboradores e Investigadores

É aqui que você encontrará pessoas e organizações envolvidas com este estudo.

Patrocinador

Investigadores

  • Cadeira de estudo: Benjamin Kasenda, PD Dr. med. Dr. phil., University Hospital Basel (USB)
  • Diretor de estudo: Guido Ghilardi, Ente Ospedaliero cantonale (EOC)

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Estimado)

1 de setembro de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

1 de março de 2029

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de março de 2030

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

4 de maio de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

13 de maio de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

18 de maio de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

18 de maio de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

13 de maio de 2026

Última verificação

1 de maio de 2026

Mais Informações

Essas informações foram obtidas diretamente do site clinicaltrials.gov sem nenhuma alteração. Se você tiver alguma solicitação para alterar, remover ou atualizar os detalhes do seu estudo, entre em contato com register@clinicaltrials.gov. Assim que uma alteração for implementada em clinicaltrials.gov, ela também será atualizada automaticamente em nosso site .

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