Clinical Trial of CD38 Monoclonal Antibody Combined With Chemotherapy for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Plain-language summary

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a group of common hematological malignancies characterized by high aggressiveness and heterogeneity. Over the past 50 years, outcomes for pediatric ALL have significantly improved, with approximately 90% of children achieving long-term survival. In adults, ALL accounts for 20%-30% of acute leukemias, and nearly two-thirds of adult ALL cases are Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-negative). Based on immunophenotype, Ph-negative ALL can be further classified into B-cell ALL (B-ALL) and T-cell ALL (T-ALL). T-ALL constitutes 15%-25% of Ph-negative ALL cases and is associated with poorer clinical prognosis compared to B-ALL, including lower induction remission rates and a higher risk of relapse, even among patients who achieve complete remission (CR). Over the past two decades, only nelarabine has been FDA-approved for relapsed/refractory T-ALL, but this drug is not available in China. Given the current therapeutic limitations, novel strategies to improve T-ALL outcomes are urgently needed. CD38, a cell surface antigen highly and stably expressed on T-ALL cells with minimal influence from prior chemotherapy, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. Preliminary clinical data for daratumumab, a CD38-targeted monoclonal antibody, demonstrate improved objective response rates (ORR) in pediatric and young adult patients compared to historical controls, along with favorable safety and tolerability. CM313 injection (referred to as "CM313"), developed by Keymed Biosciences (Chengdu) Co., Ltd., is a humanized monoclonal antibody with proprietary intellectual property. Preclinical studies confirm that CM313 specifically binds to CD38 on the surface of hematologic tumor cells, including myeloma, lymphoma, and ALL. It exerts antitumor effects via multiple mechanisms: antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and Fc crosslinking-induced apoptosis. Additionally, CM313 inhibits CD38 ectoenzyme activity. In vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic studies indicate comparable antitumor efficacy between CM313 and daratumumab. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CM313 combined with pediatric-inspired chemotherapy regimens for induction therapy in adults with newly diagnosed T-ALL, providing a foundation for extending CD38 monoclonal antibody applications to T-ALL consolidation therapy.

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