Antigen-specific T Cells Against Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a malignancy characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. There are two main types of lung cancer, small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In 2012, lung cancer occurred in 1.8 million people and resulted in 1.6 million deaths worldwide. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, but in relapsed cancer patients, such treatments often have limited successes.

In this study, the participant's peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be collected for antigen-specific T cell preparation, and/or modified using an advanced lentiviral vector system. Then the antigen-specific T cells, called engineered immune effectors (EIEs) or chimeric antigen receptor modified-T cells (CAR T), which can recognize specific molecules that are expressed by the lung cancer cells, are given back to the participant by intravenous infusion.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of T cell immunotherapy targeting single or multiple cancer antigens. The lung cancer antigens include known tumor antigens such as MAGE-A1, MAGE-A4, MucI, GD2, and mesothelin, as well as novel cancer antigens. Another goal of the study is to learn more about the persistence and function of the specific CAR T cells in the body.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with stage III, IV or relapsed lung cancer confirmed by histology and biopsy.
• Age: ≥ 18 years and ≤ 80 years.
• 4 weeks at least since last chemotherapy or radiotherapy and 2 weeks at least since last systemic steroid hormone and other immunosuppressive therapy.
• Side Effects of Chemotherapy have subsided.
• Cancer specific antigens are identified and shown to express at high levels (>2+) in malignant tissues by immuno-histochemical staining or flow cytometry.
• Karnofsky/Lansky ≥ 50%.
• Expected survival ≥ 6 weeks.

Initial hematopoietic conditions with

• neutrophils (ANC) ≥ 1×10^6/L;
• platelet (PLT) ≥ 1×10^8/L.

Proper renal and hepatic functions (ULN denotes "upper limit of normal range") with

• serum creatinine ≤ 2×ULN;
• serum bilirubin ≤ 3×ULN;
• AST/ALT ≤ 5×ULN.

• Oxygen saturation ≥ 90%. 11. Written, informed consent obtained prior to any study-specific procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Airway obstruction caused by tumor.
• History of epilepsy or other central nervous system diseases.
• Patients who require systemic corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive therapy.
• History of prolonged or serious heart disease during QT.
• history of serious cyclophosphamide toxicity.
• Current or recent treatment (within the 28-day period prior to Day 0) with another investigational drug or previous participation in any immune cell therapy study.

Inadequate liver and renal function with

• serum creatinine > 2.5 mg/dl;
• serum (total) bilirubin > 2.0 mg/dl;
• AST & ALT > 3 x ULN.

• Pregnant or lactating females. 9. Serious active infection during screening. 10. Active HIV, Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or uncontrolled infection.

• Patients, in the opinion of investigators, may not be eligible or not able to comply with the study.