Phase 1 Study of CD37-Directed CAR T Cells in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory CD37+ Hematologic Malignancies

Background: CD37 is a tetraspanin molecule expressed in B-cell and some T-cell lymphomas. We designed a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) targeting CD37 and with 4-1BB and CD3z intracellular signaling domains (CART37). Preclinical studies indicated comparable anti-tumor activity to CD19-directed CAR-T cells against B-cell lymphomas, promising activity against CD37 + T-cell lymphomas, and no evidence of off-tumor activity (PMID: 30089630). The lentiviral vector used in the clinical study includes a truncated EGFR reporter gene. NCT04136275 is a Phase 1, single-site, open-label, dose-escalation trial enrolling subjects with lymphoma who have received ≥ 2 prior regimens, and whose tumor cells express CD37.