Testing immune cells to treat recurrent ovarian cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06321484 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated June 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 CIML NK cell therapy for people with recurrent ovarian cancer. Researchers collect your own natural killer cells (immune cells that fight cancer), train them in the lab to be more effective, and then put them back into your abdomen to attack the cancer. This treatment has not yet been approved by the FDA, so this early study is checking whether it is safe and if it works.

Ovarian cancer that comes back after chemotherapy is very difficult to treat, and many patients run out of good options. This medication is designed to harness your body's own immune system to fight the cancer in a new way that standard treatments cannot.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with recurrent high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer (including serous, endometrioid, or clear cell types)
your cancer is resistant to platinum chemotherapy or you cannot tolerate it, and your doctor agrees you are a good candidate
you have already received at least one previous chemotherapy treatment; if you have a BRCA mutation, you must have also tried PARP inhibitor therapy
you are between 18 and 85 years old
your heart, liver, and kidney function are adequate based on blood tests and imaging
your doctor believes you can safely undergo a minor procedure to place a port in your abdomen

You likely don't qualify if…

you have received chemotherapy or immunotherapy within the last 2 to 6 weeks before the planned treatment start
you have had a bowel obstruction in the past 3 months or are at high risk for one
your heart function is significantly weakened or you have untreated heart disease
you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or unwilling to use birth control during the study
you have severe liver or kidney problems that fall outside the study limits

What participation looks like

You will first have blood tests and imaging scans to confirm you qualify. Then your immune cells will be collected through a procedure similar to donating blood. You will receive mild chemotherapy to prepare your body, followed by an infusion of the trained immune cells directly into your abdomen through a small port. You will then receive injections of a medication called IL-2 to help boost the cells. After that, you will have regular follow-up visits with imaging scans every 8 weeks and blood tests to monitor how you are doing. The study continues for 5 years after your treatment begins.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 20, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

United States

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts