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Macrophage Activation SyndromeNCT03827343

Retrospective Study of Immunotherapy Related Toxicities and Factors Impacting Outcomes in Children and Adults With Cancer

An observational study of Macrophage Activation Syndrome and Primary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

Immunotherapy is changing the landscape of cancer therapy. Particularly unique to immunotherapy is the toxicity profile, which differs from chemotherapy-based strategies and can be associated with inflammatory responses and/or autoimmune type reactions resulting from activation of the immune system. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 1 month to 120 years
How many people
500 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
23 Jan 2019to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 1 month to 120 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: Children and adults with cancer enrolled on immunotherapy treatment protocols in the NCI.

  • Retrospective chart review of various immunotherapy trials at the NCI used in the treatment of cancer to comprehensively study toxicity profiles. This study will not involve the use of specimens or participant contact. All data that is needed has already been collected on the individual treatment protocols and is available in CRIS records or protocol specific databases.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892

Other trials in United States

About this study

Immunotherapy is changing the landscape of cancer therapy. Particularly unique to immunotherapy is the toxicity profile, which differs from chemotherapy-based strategies and can be associated with inflammatory responses and/or autoimmune type reactions resulting from activation of the immune system. Referred to as immune related adverse events (irAEs), these adverse events may require systemic immunosuppression or have other consequences and present unique management challenges. Specific to CAR T-cell and other adoptive cell therapies is the constellation of symptoms referred to as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which can range in severity from mild to severe, and can require both cytokine directed blockade and/or systemic immunosuppression to ameliorate the side effects. While side effects may be unique to each individual immunotherapy, and may also be patient specific, cumulative experience will help to inform toxicity profiles and improve management of side effects and overall outcomes.

Given the number of immunotherapeutic approaches at the NCI, the primary goal of this protocol is to facilitate retrospective chart review of various immunotherapy trials at the NCI used in the treatment of cancer to comprehensively study toxicity profiles. This study will not involve the use of specimens or participant contact. All data that is needed has already been collected on the individual treatment protocols and is available in CRIS records or protocol specific databases.

Data will only be collected from treatment protocols where the PI has given permission for use of the data on the trial the subject was enrolled on. This protocol will be amended to incorporate new research objectives and new protocols as necessary.

Read the detailed description

Immunotherapy is changing the landscape of cancer therapy. Particularly unique to immunotherapy is the toxicity profile, which differs from chemotherapy-based strategies and can be associated with inflammatory responses and/or autoimmune type reactions resulting from activation of the immune system. Referred to as immune related adverse events (irAEs), these adverse events may require systemic immunosuppression or have other consequences and present unique management challenges. Specific to CAR T-cell and other adoptive cell therapies is the constellation of symptoms referred to as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which can range in severity from mild to severe, and can require both cytokine directed blockade and/or systemic immunosuppression to ameliorate the side effects. While side effects may be unique to each individual immunotherapy, and may also be patient specific, cumulative experience will help to inform toxicity profiles and improve management of side effects and overall outcomes.

Given the number of immunotherapeutic approaches at the NCI, the primary goal of this protocol is to facilitate retrospective chart review of various immunotherapy trials at the NCI used in the treatment of cancer to comprehensively study toxicity profiles. This study will not involve the use of specimens or participant contact. All data that is needed has already been collected on the individual treatment protocols and is available in CRIS records or protocol specific databases. Data will only be collected from treatment protocols where the PI has given permission for use of the data on the trial the subject was enrolled on or from standard of care protocols. This protocol will be amended to incorporate new research objectives and new protocols as necessary.

Keywords
CAR-T Cell Therapy, Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS), Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), Natural History
Medical subject headings
Macrophage Activation Syndrome, Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT03827343
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1Retrospective chart review of children and adults with cancer enrolled on immunotherapy treatment protocols in the NCI.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. To develop a retrospective study to allow for comparison of immunotherapy related toxicity profiles and risk factors across a set of protocols in the NCI.

    Summary of immunotherapy related toxicity profiles and risk factors across a set of protocols in the NCI.

    Measured: 2 years

Secondary outcomes (24)
  1. Evaluate infectious complications and their risk factors in patients who receive CAR-T cell therapy for cancer

    Summary of infectious complications and their risk factors in patients who receive CAR-T cell therapy for cancer

    Measured: 2 years

  2. Evaluate the incidence, risk factors for, and treatment of HLH/MAS (now renamed IEC-HS) in patients who receive CAR-T cell therapy.

    Incidence and treatment of HLH/MAS (now renamed IEC-HS) in patients who receive CAR-T cell therapy

    Measured: 2 years

  3. Incidence and time to resolution

    Incidence of and time to resolution of grade 3 and 4 cytopenias post-CAR T-cell therapy in those who achieve a complete remission.

    Measured: 2 years

  4. Overall and relapse free survival

    Summary of overall and relapse free survival and transplant associated toxicities for patients undergoing HSCT following CAR-T cell therapy

    Measured: 2 years

  5. Incidence of end organ toxicities

    Incidence of grade 3 and 4 end organ toxicities experienced within the first 30 days of CAR T-cell therapy and includes associations between pre-CAR organ function as well as post-CAR response to such toxicities as well as validate the CAR-Comorbidity Index as predictive model of CRS severity

    Measured: 2 years

  6. Evaluate response and toxicity profile of second CAR T-cell infusions

    Summary of factors associated with response to second CAR T-cell infusion

    Measured: 2 years

  7. Evaluate impact of race/ethnicity and obesity on CAR T-cell outcomes

    Summary of response and toxicity profiles in patients based on race/ethnicity and also in those who are obese compared to those who are not.

    Measured: 2 years

  8. Evaluate impact of cryopreservation on outcomes following CAR T-cell infusion

    Summary of cryopreservation and patients' outcomes following CAR T-cell infusion

    Measured: 2 years

  9. Evaluate outcomes for patients with ALL and Down Syndrome following CAR T-cell therapy

    Summary of outcomes of patients with ALL and Down Syndrome who have received CAR T-cell therapy

    Measured: 2 years

  10. Evaluate absolute lymphocyte count following lymphodepleting chemotherapy

    Summary of absolute lymphocyte count across lymphodepleting regimens

    Measured: 2 years

  11. Evaluate relationship between clinical variable and apheresis and manufacturing products

    Summary of clinical variables and apheresis and manufacturing products

    Measured: 2 years

  12. Evaluate incidence of hypertension, identify risk factors for development of hypertension, summarize medical management in CAR setting, and identify complications

    Summary of incidence of hypertension, risk factors, medical management and complications

    Measured: 2 years

  13. Describe baseline demographics, prior treatment characteristics and outcomes based on patients who are referred to CAR T-cell program

    Summary of demographics, prior treatment and outcomes for patients referred to CAR T-cell program

    Measured: 2 years

  14. Incidence of pre-infusion BCA and use of BCA as a prognostic marker for CAR T-cell associated toxicity and efficacy

    Incidence of BCA pre-infusion and use as a prognostic marker for CAR T-cell associated toxicity and efficacy

    Measured: 2 years

  15. Presence and durability of CD72 expression in both B-ALL and normal B-ALL/hematogones

    Summary of CD72 expression in both B-ALL and normal B-ALL/hematogones and evaluate use as prognostic marker for CAR T-cell associated toxicity and efficacy

    Measured: 2 years

  16. Evaluate interventions, documentation of care goals, and use of palliative care consultation or other symptom management

    Summary of interventions, documentation of care goals, and use of palliative care consultation or other symptom management for patients treated with CAR T-cell therapy

    Measured: 2 years

  17. Evaluate long-term outcomes of survivors who received CAR T-cell therapy

    Summary of long-term outcomes of survivors who received CAR T-cell therapy

    Measured: 2 years

  18. Evaluate cross compare responses and outcomes based on NGS MRD and FC MRD

    Summary of cross compare responses and outcomes based on NGS MRD and FC MRD

    Measured: 2 Years

  19. Evaluate the role of manufacturing changes on CAR T-cell outcomes

    Summary of the role of manufacturing changes on CAR T-cell outcomes

    Measured: 2 Years

  20. Evaluate the impact of clonal hematopoiesis on CAR T-cell outcomes

    Summary of the impact of clonal hematopoiesis on CAR T-cell outcomes

    Measured: 2 Years

  21. Evaluate CAR T-cell related coagulopathies

    Summary of CAR T-cell related coagulopathies

    Measured: 2 Years

  22. Evaluate the use of anti-cytokine therapy to treat toxicities after CAR T-cell infusion

    Summary of the use of anti-cytokine therapy to treat toxicities after CAR T-cell infusion

    Measured: 2 Years

  23. Evaluate outcomes of CAR T-cells in patients with extramedullary disease

    Summary of outcomes of CAR T-cells in patients with extramedullary disease

    Measured: 2 Years

  24. To evaluate outcomes of CAR T-cells based on time of infusion

    Summary of outcomes of CAR T-cells based on time of infusion

    Measured: 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Feb 2019
  2. Study start23 Jan 2019
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrolment
500 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03827343
Sponsor's protocol ID
999919044
Other IDs
19-C-N044
Status last verified
11 Jun 2026
First submitted
31 Jan 2019
Last updated
8 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: All IPD recorded in the medical record will be shared with intramural investigators upon request.

Publications

  • Culbert AA, Gava F, Valtis YK, Satta T, Vora S, Rocco JM, Nussenblatt V, Silbert SK, Shalabi H, Yates B, Park JH, Lamble AJ, Rejeski K, Shah NN. Pre-infusion risk factors predict severe infectious complications of CAR T-cell therapy in pediatric and adult patients with B-ALL. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Sep 14;13(9):e012436. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2025-012436.

    PubMed 40953923
  • Silbert SK, Madan S, Holland EM, Steinberg SM, Little L, Foley T, Epstein M, Sarkisian A, Lee DW, Nikitina E, Kakumanu S, Ruppin E, Shalabi H, Yates B, Shah NN. A comprehensive analysis of adverse events in the first 30 days of phase 1 pediatric CAR T-cell trials. Blood Adv. 2023 Sep 26;7(18):5566-5578. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023009789.

    PubMed 37486616
  • Holland EM, Yates B, Steinberg SM, Yuan CM, Wang HW, Annesley C, Shalabi H, Stroncek D, Fry TJ, Krueger J, Jacoby E, Hsieh E, Bhojwani D, Gardner RA, Maude SL, Shah NN. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells as Salvage Therapy for Post-Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Failure. Transplant Cell Ther. 2023 Sep;29(9):574.e1-574.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2023.06.019. Epub 2023 Jun 30.

    PubMed 37394115

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Macrophage Activation Syndrome and Primary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

To develop a retrospective study to allow for comparison of immunotherapy related toxicity profiles and risk factors across a set of protocols in the NCI. (time frame: 2 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03827343, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Oct 2026.

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