Engineered immune cells take on tough cancers in first human trial
NCT ID NCT07488923
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 26, 2026 · Updated 4 times
Summary
This early-phase trial tests a new treatment called ML261 for people with advanced small cell lung cancer or certain neuroendocrine cancers that have not responded to standard treatments. ML261 is made from a patient's own immune cells, which are modified in a lab to better recognize and attack cancer cells. The main goals are to check the treatment's safety and to see if it can shrink tumors.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- ML261 (a type of CAR T-cell therapy that targets DLL3 on cancer cells)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new treatment option for people with certain hard-to-treat lung and neuroendocrine cancers that have stopped responding to standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, first-in-human trial, so safety and effectiveness are unknown. There is a risk of serious side effects, and the therapy may not work for many participants.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 110 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2026
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria * ≥18 years of age at the time of signing the ICF * Have been previously treated with at least one line of systemic standard of care (SOC) anti-cancer therapy for their respective cancer indication. Participants with locally advanced disease who are eligible for curative resection will be excluded. * Have documented radiological disease progression/relapse during or after their most recent line of anti-cancer therapy with measurable disease on imaging, as assessed by RECIST v1.1 * Have histologically and/or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of select advanced or metastatic R/R solid tumor malignancy in one of the following: R/R SCLC, R/R GEP-NEC, R/R high-grade NEPC, R/R epNEC with biopsy-documented DLL3 expression on archival tissue or fresh biopsy by local or central assessment. CNS NEC is excluded. Participants with mixed histologies for any of these indications qualify if the small cell/neuroendocrine tumor cell percentage is \> 50%, except for high-grade NEPC where neuroendocrine component must be \> 20%. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Score (PS) 0 or 1 * Life expectancy ≥12 weeks * Have adequate hematologic and end-organ function Exclusion Criteria: * Previous systemic anti-cancer therapies within the timeframes, as specified in the protocol. * Prior exposure/treatment with DLL3-targeted CAR T therapy or any other genetically engineered adoptive T cell therapy. * Prior allogeneic organ transplant (including allogeneic bone marrow transplant). * Major surgical procedure within 4 weeks of the first dose of any study drug administration or anticipated to be in need of a major surgical procedure during the course of study. * Participants with toxicities (as a result of prior anti-cancer therapy) which have not recovered to baseline or CTCAE v5.0 \<Grade 2, except for adverse events (AEs) not considered a likely safety risk: (e.g., alopecia, neuropathy, non-clinically relevant laboratory abnormalities). * Symptomatic ascites or effusions (pleural or pericardial) requiring intermittent drainage. * History of any other malignancy known to be active, with the exception of completely removed in situ cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, non-melanoma skin cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, early-stage prostate cancer that has been adequately treated, and other cancers from which the participant has been disease free for 3 years or longer or does not require treatment and in the opinion of investigator after discussion with the medical monitor are not likely to impact the patient's life expectancy. * One or more of the following cardiac criteria: Unstable angina, Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to Screening, New York Heart Association Class III to IV heart failure, clinically important abnormalities in rhythm, conduction, or morphology of resting ECG (e.g., complete left bundle branch block or third-degree heart block) * Acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTEs without hemodynamic compromise, treated with stable doses of anticoagulants are allowed. * Presence of clinically significant CNS pathology: * seizure disorder, aphasia, stroke, severe brain injuries, dementia, Parkinson's disease, or cerebellar disease. History of these disorders requires discussion with the medical monitor. * Presence of clinically active psychosis. * Known brain metastases unless asymptomatic and not requiring steroids for at least 2 weeks prior to the first dose of any study drug administration. * Active systemic autoimmune disease or any other condition that requires, or is anticipated to require, systemic treatment with steroids or other systemic immunosuppressive agents, or participants who have received such agents within 4 weeks of leukapheresis and ML261 administration (further details provided in protocol body). * Evidence of interstitial lung disease (such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) or active pneumonitis of any etiology requiring treatment. * Any active infection (defined as symptoms, signs, or radiographic) of bacterial, viral, or fungal or unknown etiology requiring systemic therapy within 14 days of leukapheresis. Participants with clinical and/or laboratory evidence of persistent infection will be excluded. * Uncontrolled medical, psychological/psychiatric, or social condition that would interfere with the participant's participation or compromise the objectives of the study in the opinion of the Investigator and/or the Sponsor.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
6 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Hackensack University Medical Center
RECRUITINGHackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States
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MD Anderson Cancer Center
RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030, United States
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NYU Langone Health
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10016, United States
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Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI)
RECRUITINGNashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
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UT Southwestern Medical Center
RECRUITINGDallas, Texas, 75235, United States
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Washington University Medicine
RECRUITINGSt Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A deep dive into tumor markers could personalize lung cancer care
- Can armored CAR t cells take down Hard-to-Treat neuroendocrine cancers?
- Engineered immune cells take aim at stubborn lung cancer
- Could a hidden nerve condition be more common in lung cancer than we think?
- Can a Triple-Drug combo outsmart a rare and aggressive cancer?
- Can a gentler drug trio tame small cell lung cancer in older patients?