Testing immune cells to treat high-risk blood cancers after transplant

Plain-English translation of NCT02203903 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated May 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new treatment called TAA-T, which are immune cells specially designed to recognize and attack cancer cells. Doctors take immune cells from a donor, train them in the lab to target specific proteins found on blood cancer cells, and then give them back to patients who have had a stem cell transplant. The goal is to help prevent the cancer from coming back.

High-risk blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia often come back even after a stem cell transplant. This medication is being tested because doctors hope that giving patients these specially trained cancer-fighting immune cells will catch and destroy any remaining cancer cells before they can cause a relapse.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 6 months and 80 years old
you have been diagnosed with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome
you are planning to have or have already had an allogeneic stem cell transplant
you are in remission (no active cancer) at the time of treatment
you are healthy enough to receive the treatment, with a performance score of 50 or higher

You likely don't qualify if…

you have an active or uncontrolled infection
you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
you have severe graft-versus-host disease or other serious complications from your transplant
you received certain immune-suppressing medications within the past 4 weeks
you are planning to have a second stem cell transplant

What participation looks like

If you qualify, doctors will harvest immune cells from your transplant donor and spend several weeks growing and training them in the lab. About 30 days or more after your stem cell transplant, you will receive an infusion of these trained cells through an IV—a small volume that typically takes less than an hour. You may be eligible for a second infusion a few weeks later if needed. Throughout the study, you will have blood tests and clinic visits to monitor how well the treatment is working and watch for any side effects, with follow-up care continuing for several months after the infusion.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 12, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

United States

Childrens National Medical Center, Washington D.C., District of Columbia

Tania Jain, MD, Baltimore, Maryland