Recruiting

Testing a new cell therapy for blood cancers that haven't responded to other treatments

Plain-English translation of NCT03666000 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated February 2026 · 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 (azercabtagene zapreleucel), which is a type of cell therapy designed to help your immune system fight blood cancers that have returned or stopped responding to other treatments. Researchers are testing different doses of this medication to find the safest and most effective amount, and to see how well it works against certain types of lymphoma and leukemia. The treatment involves using your own immune cells, which are trained in the lab to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Many patients with advanced lymphoma or leukemia run out of effective treatment options when their cancer stops responding to standard therapies. This medication represents a newer approach—using your body's own immune cells as a personalized weapon against cancer—and researchers need to test whether it can offer hope to patients who have few other choices.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with a B-cell blood cancer (such as lymphoma or leukemia) that has returned after treatment or stopped responding to previous therapies
you have received prior cancer treatments but are not requiring emergency care due to urgent tumor complications
you are in generally good health with adequate heart, lung, kidney, and liver function
you have an expected life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
you do not have an active infection with HIV or certain types of hepatitis

You likely don't qualify if…

you have active cancer in your central nervous system (brain or spinal cord), unless it is a specific type of brain lymphoma
you have a history of another type of cancer
you have a severe immune system disorder or primary immunodeficiency
you have uncontrolled heart disease or have experienced a hypertensive crisis in the past three months
you require urgent medical treatment due to your tumor pressing on vital organs or blood vessels

What participation looks like

You would first receive chemotherapy to prepare your body for the new treatment. Then, on Day 0, you would receive an intravenous infusion of the medication—and possibly a second medication called to support the treatment's effectiveness. You would be closely monitored for safety and effectiveness through regular visits and tests for up to two years. If you enroll, you would also be asked to participate in long-term follow-up visits for up to 15 years after the main study ends, so researchers can track your health and how well this treatment works over time.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 9, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(23 sites)

United States

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gilbert, Arizona

City of Hope, Duarte, California

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida

Winship Cancer Institute Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia