Experimental immune cell therapy for transplant viruses shows early promise but study halted
NCT ID NCT04364178
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-stage trial tested whether specially grown immune cells could help transplant patients fight off stubborn viral infections. The study included 8 people who had received a stem cell or organ transplant and had ongoing infections with adenovirus, CMV, or EBV. The approach aimed to boost the body's defenses without the long wait and high cost of personalized treatments. The study was terminated early, so results are limited.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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8 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2020
- Finished
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Nov 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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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1 month to 65 years
- 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 1. Patient, parent, or legal guardian must have given written informed consent, according to FDA guidelines. For patients ≥ 7 years of age who are developmentally able, assent or affirmation will be obtained, if feasible. 2. Male or female, 1 month through 65 years old, inclusive, at the time of informed consent. 3. Prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, single or double cord blood), OR prior solid organ transplant (liver, kidney, lung and/or heart, intestinal, or multivisceral), OR diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency OR current/recent administration of immunosuppressive therapy for cancer or autoimmune disease. 4. Clinical status, at time of consent, amendable to tapering of steroids to less than 1 mg/kg/day prednisone (or equivalent) prior to cellular infusion. 5. Negative pregnancy test for females ≥10 years old or who have reached menarche, unless surgically sterilized. 6. Diagnosis of Adenovirus or CMV infection, persistent despite standard therapy. A. Adenovirus Infection or Disease: 1. Active adenovirus infection: (i.e. gastroenteritis, pneumonia, hemorrhagic cystitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, meningitis) defined as the demonstration of adenovirus by biopsy specimen from affected site(s) (by culture or histology), or the detection of adenovirus by culture, PCR or direct fluorescent antibody stain in fluid in the presence of worsening or persistent clinical or imaging findings despite at least 14 days of appropriate antiviral therapy (i.e. cidofovir, brincidofovir, or other available pharmacological agents) OR 2. Refractory adenoviremia: defined as DNAemia \>5000 copies/mL or \<1 log decrease after at least 2 weeks of appropriate antiviral therapy (i.e. cidofovir, brincidofovir, or other available pharmacological agents) OR 3. Intolerance of or contraindication to antiviral medications. B. CMV Infection or Disease: 1. Active CMV infection: (i.e. pneumonia, meningitis, retinitis, hepatitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, and/or gastroenteritis) defined as the demonstration of CMV by biopsy specimen from affected site(s) (by culture or histology) or the detection of CMV by culture, PCR or direct fluorescent antibody stain in fluid in the presence of worsening or persistent clinical or imaging findings despite at least 14 days of appropriate antiviral therapy (i.e. Foscarnet, ganciclovir, cidofovir, or other available pharmacological agents) OR 2. Refractory CMV viremia: defined as the continued presence of DNAemia, with ≥2,000 IU/mL or \<1 log decrease after at least 14 days of appropriate antiviral therapy (i.e. Foscarnet, ganciclovir, cidofovir, or other available pharmacological agents) OR 3. Intolerance of or contraindication to antiviral medications. C. EBV Infection or Disease: 1. Biopsy proven lymphoma or posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease with EBV genomes detected in tumor cells by immunocytochemistry (i.e. EBER positive) or in situ PCR, OR 2. Clinical or imaging findings consistent with EBV lymphoma and associated elevated EBV viral load in peripheral blood in a patient where biopsy is deemed too high risk, OR 3. Failure of antiviral therapy, as determined by one of the two bullets below after three weeks of anti-CD20 targeted therapy such as Rituximab. i. There was an increase or less than 50% response at sites of lymphoma disease or lymphoproliferation. ii. There was a rise or a fall of less than 50% in EBV viral load in peripheral blood of PTLD patients. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Received ATG or Alemtuzumab within 28 days of viral-specific T cell infusion and a lack of evidence of T cell survival, defined by \<10 CD3+ T cells/uL (in unique situations, plasmapheresis may be considered). 2. Active acute GVHD grades II-IV. 3. Active severe chronic GVHD. 4. Received donor lymphocyte infusion, with the exception of a fraction of an umbilical cord blood, within 21 days of viral-specific T cell infusion. Subjects receiving a fraction of an umbilical cord blood within 21 days of the viral-specific T cell infusion will not be excluded. 5. Active and uncontrolled relapse of malignancy. 6. Anticipated initiation of new lymphotoxic therapy within 4 weeks of viral-specific T cell infusion. 7. Patients who are pregnant or lactating. 8. Past or current medical problems or findings from physical examination or laboratory testing that are not listed above, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may pose additional risks to participation in the study, may interfere with the participant's ability to comply with study requirements, or that may impact the quality or interpretation of the data obtained from the study. Donor Inclusion Criteria 1. 12 years of age or older 2. Able to understand and consent/assent to the procedure 3. Required hemoglobin of 11g/dL or greater 4. Partial (2/6 or more) HLA match to the recipient Donor Exclusion Criteria 1. Donor is pregnant 2. Donor is HIV positive 3. Donor is positive for hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C 4. Uncontrolled infection 5. Deemed to be a high risk donor based on responses to donor risk questionnaire 6. Deemed high risk due to pre-existing medical condition or abnormal lab results
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Chemotherapy plus immunotherapy tested against rare EBV-Driven immune storm
- Banked t cells target four viruses at once in children after transplant
- The Little-Known virus that may rival RSV and flu in older adults
- Can we outsmart Drug-Resistant CMV in transplant patients?
- Can we map CMV's spread in daycares to shield future pregnancies?
- Can immune cells predict herpesvirus danger in transplant patients?