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Cytokine Induced Memory-Like Natural Killer Cells Combined with Atezolizumab for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Trial Status: active

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of cytokine induced memory-like natural killer cells (CIML-NK cells) in combination with atezolizumab in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has come back after a period of improvement (relapsed) or that has not responded to previous treatment (refractory). CIML-NK cells are made in a laboratory from human healthy blood from a haploidentical “half-matched” donor. (Haploidentical means the donor’s cells are half-matched to the patient's cells.) The healthy donor blood cells will be collected for the separation (isolation) of natural killer (NK) cells, white blood cells that play an important role in the body’s immune system. The NK cells will then be activated into a memory-like state using proteins called cytokines. Cytokines can make the NK cells more effective at killing cancer cells. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Patients also receive a conditioning chemotherapy with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide that briefly suppresses the immune system and prepares to body to receive the CIML-NK cell therapy. Fludarabine injection is in a class of medications called purine analogs. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. Cyclophosphamide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell’s DNA and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the body’s immune response. In addition, patients receive aldesleukin, a drug that increases the activity of white blood cells called T cells and B cells, which may help the immune system kill cancer cells. Giving the combination of conditioning chemotherapy, aldesleukin, atezolizumab, and CIML-NK cells may be a safe treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory AML.