Removing the second modifier produces an empty cell <td></td>.
This set of commands works nicely:
<?set "cleanStatus" = "=$status&>&vxWorkxPlay$="?>
<?set "cleanStatus" = "=$cleanStatus&vx x $="?>
<td>=$cleanStatus$=</td>
p.s. I know that I can change the status labels in the collection template. In this case, I want to leave the data as it is, and modify the output on the fly.