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CAR T-cell Therapy

CAR T Cell Therapy for Pediatric Brain Cancer

Phase 1
Waitlist Available
Research Sponsored by Seattle Children's Hospital
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Histologically diagnosed HER2-positive Central Nervous System (CNS) tumor
Able to tolerate apheresis, or has apheresis product available for use in manufacturing
Must not have
Diagnosis of classic diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG)
Presence of Grade ≥ 3 cardiac dysfunction or symptomatic arrhythmia requiring intervention
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 6 months
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing a new way to treat brain tumors in children and young adults by engineering their own T cells to attack the tumor cells.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for children and young adults aged 1 to 26 with recurrent or refractory HER2-positive CNS tumors who have no standard therapy options left. They must have a CNS catheter in place, a life expectancy of at least 8 weeks, recovered from previous treatments, stable or decreasing steroid use, good organ function and lab values, not be pregnant or breastfeeding, and agree to use contraception.
What is being tested?
The study tests HER2-specific CAR T cell therapy delivered through an indwelling CNS catheter over two courses. Each course involves weekly doses for three weeks followed by one week off. The treatment aims to allow engineered T cells to directly interact with tumor cells in the brain.
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects may include reactions related to immune response such as inflammation around the site of infusion or within the central nervous system, general discomforts like fatigue or fever due to immune activation, and possible complications from having an indwelling catheter.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My brain tumor is HER2 positive.
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I can undergo apheresis or already have an apheresis product ready for use.
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It has been over a week since my last chemotherapy or biologic treatment.
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It's been over 30 days or 3 half-lives since my last antibody therapy.
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It has been over 30 days since my last cell infusion.
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I can care for myself but may need occasional help.
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My brain or spinal cord cancer has come back or isn't responding to treatment, and there's no standard treatment left.
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I am between 1 and 26 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have been diagnosed with a specific brain tumor known as DIPG.
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I have severe heart issues or irregular heartbeats needing treatment.
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I am showing signs of a possible herniation.
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I have cancer in parts of my body other than my brain.
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I am currently fighting a severe infection.
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I have a condition that affects my immune system or bone marrow.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 6 months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 6 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Establish the feasibility, defined by the ability to produce and administer CAR T cell product, of HER2-specific CAR T cell product infusions delivered by a central nervous system (CNS) catheter into the tumor resection cavity or ventricular system
Establish the safety, defined by the adverse events, of HER2-specific CAR T cell infusions delivered by a central nervous system (CNS) catheter into the tumor resection cavity or ventricular system
Secondary study objectives
Assess the distribution of CNS-delivered HER2-specific CAR T cells within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood
Disease
Assessment of whether HER2 expression changes in relapsed CNS tumors that were HER2 positive prior to treatment with CAR T cells
Other study objectives
Analysis of CSF for biomarkers of anti-tumor CAR T cell functional activity

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: ARM B (Ventricular System Infusion)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
patients with either infratentorial tumors or leptomeningeal tumors for which the CAR T cells will be delivered into the fourth ventricle or lateral ventricle, respectively Intervention: HER2-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell
Group II: ARM A (Tumor Cavity Infusion)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
patients with supratentorial tumors for which CAR T cells will be delivered into the tumor resection cavity Intervention: HER2-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Seattle Children's HospitalLead Sponsor
310 Previous Clinical Trials
5,231,070 Total Patients Enrolled
Nicholas Vitanza, MDStudy ChairSeattle Children's Hospital

Media Library

HER2-specific CAR T Cell Locoregional Immunotherapy (CAR T-cell Therapy) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03500991 — Phase 1
Clear Cell Ependymoma Research Study Groups: ARM A (Tumor Cavity Infusion), ARM B (Ventricular System Infusion)
Clear Cell Ependymoma Clinical Trial 2023: HER2-specific CAR T Cell Locoregional Immunotherapy Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03500991 — Phase 1
HER2-specific CAR T Cell Locoregional Immunotherapy (CAR T-cell Therapy) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03500991 — Phase 1
~1 spots leftby Nov 2025