Intrathecal Cytarabine, Methotrexate, and Hydrocortisone for the Prevention of High-Grade Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Status and phase: Not yet enrolling; Phase 2

Conditions: Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm

Treatments: Drug: Cytarabine; Procedure: Lumbar Puncture; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Drug: Methotrexate; Drug: Therapeutic Hydrocortisone

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06895473

STUDY00028106 (Other Identifier)

NCI-2025-00937 (Registry Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This phase II trial tests how well cytarabine (Ara-C), methotrexate, and hydrocortisone given between the spinal cord and the membranes that protect it (intrathecal [IT]) works in preventing high-grade immune effector-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) in patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. ICANS is a challenging complication of CAR T-cell therapy that causes neurological effects varying from mild headaches or temporary confusion to hallucinations, swelling in the brain, and seizures. Between 20%-70% of patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy show symptoms of neurotoxicity.

Full description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the efficacy of IT chemotherapy in the prevention of high grade ICANS.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the efficacy of IT chemotherapy in the prevention of any grade ICANS.

II. To evaluate safety of IT chemotherapy. III. To evaluate the effect of IT chemotherapy on corticosteroid use. IV. To evaluate the effect of IT chemotherapy on anakinra use.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the effect of IT chemotherapy on time to ICANS onset. II. To evaluate the effect of IT chemotherapy on duration of ICANS. III. To evaluate the burden of treatment mediated serious adverse events (SAEs).

OUTLINE:

Patients receive cytarabine IT, methotrexate IT, and hydrocortisone IT over 3-5 minutes via lumbar puncture (LP) on days 1 and 5 post-standard of care (SOC) Axi-cel (Yescarta) or Brexu-cel (Tecartus) in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or development of ICANS. Additionally, patients undergo cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample collection throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for up to 30 days.

Enrollment: 22 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent. Participant or legally authorized representative (LAR) must provide written informed consent prior to any study-specific procedures or interventions

• Age ≥ 18 years. All genders, races, and ethnic groups will be included

• Must be receiving SOC Yescarta® or Tecartus® in the inpatient setting

• Agree to adhere to institutional guidelines for contraception during the first 30 days post CAR-T

  • Rationale for eligibility criteria based on contraception and pregnancy (both participants and partners of a sperm-producing participant): It shall be known to all participants that the effects of CAR-T or IT chemotherapy on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, persons of reproductive potential must agree to use adequate contraception. Should a participant or participant's sexual partner become pregnant or suspect a pregnancy while participating in this study, the individual should inform their treating physician immediately

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2

• Platelet count > 50,000/mm^3 (μL)

• Adequate coagulation tests including international normalized ratio (INR) < 1.6 and fibrinogen > 100

Exclusion criteria

• Active/concurrent diagnosis of any central nervous system (CNS) hematologic malignancy

• History or presence of CNS disorder such as seizure disorder, cerebrovascular ischemia/hemorrhage, dementia, cerebellar disease, or any autoimmune disease with CNS involvement

• Known history of hypersensitivity to IT chemotherapy

• Subject has a contraindication to LP including:

  • Presence of a posterior fossa mass
  • Skin infection near puncture site
  • Uncorrected bleeding diathesis
  • Suspicion of increased intracranial pressure
  • Acute spinal cord trauma

• Subject is receiving an antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant that cannot be held prior to LP according to best available evidence

• Known bleeding disorders

• Any other significant medical illness, abnormality, or condition that would, in the Investigator's judgement, make the participant inappropriate for study participation or would put the participant at risk

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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22 participants in 1 patient group

Supportive Care (cytarabine, methotrexate, hydrocortisone)

Experimental group

Description:

Patients receive cytarabine IT, methotrexate IT, and hydrocortisone IT over 3-5 minutes via LP on days 1 and 5 post-SOC Axi-cel (Yescarta) or Brexu-cel (Tecartus) in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or development of ICANS. Additionally, patients undergo CSF sample collection throughout the study.

Treatment:

Drug: Therapeutic Hydrocortisone

Drug: Methotrexate

Procedure: Biospecimen Collection

Procedure: Lumbar Puncture

Drug: Cytarabine