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NCT Number: NCT05620342

Autologous CAR T-Cells Targeting the GD2 Antigen for Lung Cancer

This is a phase 1, single-center, open-label study that enrolls adult subjects with extensive stage lung cancer or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer that is platinum-refractory and received PD-1 and/or PD-L1 therapy. The purpose of this study is to test the safety of using a new treatment called autologous T lymphocyte chimeric antigen receptor cells against the GD2 antigen (iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T cells) in subjects with lung cancer. How much (dose) of the iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T cells are safe to use without causing too many side effects and what is the maximum dose that could be tolerated will be studied.

Modified immune cells as an experimental treatment that combines antibodies and T cells will be used. Antibodies are proteins that protect the body from foreign invaders like bacteria. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill viruses and other cells, including tumor cells. Although antibodies and T cells have been used to treat cancer and they both have shown promise, neither alone has been able to cure most patients. This study will combine T cells and antibodies to create a more effective treatment.

The treatment that is being researched in this study is called autologous T lymphocyte chimeric antigen receptor cells targeted against the disialoganglioside (GD2) antigen that expresses Interleukin (IL)-15, and the inducible caspase 9 safety switch (iC9). The short name for this treatment is iC9.GD2.CAR.IL-15 T cells therapy is an experimental therapy and has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. There are two steps. In the first step, blood will be collected from the subjects to prepare the iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T cells. T cells will be isolated from the blood and modified to make iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15. In the second step, the iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T cells produced from the subject's own blood will be administered to the subject.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Written informed consent to undergo cell procurement explained to, understood by, and signed by the subject.
  • Subject has a life expectancy of ≥ 12 weeks.
  • Subject must be platinum-refractory and either currently receiving or has previously received a PD1/PDL1 inhibitor
  • Use of systemic corticosteroids at doses ≥10 mg prednisone daily or it's equivalent; those receiving <10 mg daily may be enrolled at the discretion of the investigator.
  • Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to cell procurement.
  • Subject has demonstrated adequate organ function.

Exclusion criteria

1 . Subject has less than 12 weeks of life expectancy.

  • Subject did not receive platinum-based chemotherapy
  • Subject does not have adequate organ function.

Treatment and study plan

iC9.GD2.CAR.IL-15 T Infusion

Biological

iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T-cells product will be administered via intravenous injection over 5 - 10 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of participants with adverse event

    Time frame: Up to 4 weeks

    The number of participants with adverse events (AE)s will be reported as a measure of the safety and tolerability of C9.GD2.CAR.IL-15 T. AEs will be classified and graded according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0.

    Grade 1 Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated. Grade 2 Moderate; minimal, local, or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age-appropriate instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Grade 3 Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self-care ADL. Grade 4 Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. Grade 5 Death related to AE.

  2. Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

    Time frame: Up to 4 weeks

    CRS will be graded according to the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) CRS Consensus Grading.

    Grade 1 - Mild (Symptomatic Management): Fever ≥38^ o C, No hypotension, No hypoxia, Grade 2 - Moderate (Moderate Intervention): Fever ≥38^ o C, Hypotension not requiring vasopressors, Hypoxia requiring low-flow nasal cannula (≤6 L/minute) or blow-by, Grade 3 - Severe (Aggressive Intervention): Fever ≥ 38^ o C , Hypotension requiring a vasopressor with or without vasopressin, Hypoxia requiring high-flow nasal cannula (>6 L/minute), facemask, nonrebreather mask, or Venturi mask, Grade 4 - Life-threatening (Life-sustaining intervention): Fever ≥38^oC, Hypotension requiring multiple vasopressors (excluding vasopressin), Hypoxia requiring positive pressure (e.g. Continuous positive airway pressure, BiPAP, intubation, mechanical ventilation), Grade 5 - Death: Death.

  3. Neurotoxicity

    Time frame: Up to 4 weeks

    Neurotoxicity will be graded according to the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) Consensus Grading criteria.

    ICANS grading criteria are outlined in the protocol on a scale from 1 (mild) to 4 (critical) based on the Immune Effector Cell-Associated Encephalopathy (ICE) Score. Grade 1:Score: 7-9 (mild impairment), Grade 2:Score: 3-6 (moderate impairment), Grade 3: Score: 0-2 (severe impairment), Grade 4: Score: Subject in critical condition, and/or obtunded and cannot perform an assessment of tasks.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Identification of Recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D)

    Time frame: Up to 4 weeks

    The RP2D of iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T-cells will be determined based on the modified 3+3 dose-finding rule based on the protocol. Dose escalation will be performed considering the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), dose level (DL) will be increased unless there is no DLT.

  2. Overall Response Rate (ORR)

    Time frame: Up to 4 weeks

    ORR will be assessed per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.1) which defines Complete Response (CR) as the disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions. Overall Response Rate (ORR) = number of subjects who achieved CR + number of subjects who achieved PR / total number of subjects who received the study treatment.

  3. Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

    PFS will be measured from the first day of lymphodepletion chemotherapy prior to iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T-cell infusion to progression based on RECIST 1.1 criteria or death.

    RECIST 1.1 Criteria: Stable Disease (SD): No response or less response than Partial or Progressive and Progressive Disease (PD): A 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.

  4. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

    OS will be measured from the first day of lymphodepletion chemotherapy prior to iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T-cell infusion to date of death for any cause.

  5. Duration of Response (DOR)

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

    DOR is defined as the time from documentation of partial response or response to disease progression based on RECIST 1.1.

    RECIST 1.1 Criteria: Complete Response (CR) as the disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions. Overall Response Rate (ORR) = number of subjects who achieved CR + number of subjects who achieved PR / total number of subjects who received the study treatment.Stable Disease (SD): No response or less response than Partial or Progressive and Progressive Disease (PD): A 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.

  6. Duration of Benefit

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

    Duration of benefit is defined as the time from the first day of lymphodepletion chemotherapy prior to iC9-GD2.CAR.IL-15 T-cell infusion to disease progression, next therapy, or death.

    RECIST 1.1 Criteria Progressive Disease (PD): A 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.

  7. Disialoganglioside (GD2) Expression

    Time frame: Baseline

    GD2 Expression will be measured via immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tumor samples collected from subjects.

  8. Disialoganglioside Expression and tumor response rate correlations

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

    GD2 value and tumor response rate graded according to RECIST 1.1 relation will be evaluated.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Caroline Babinec

CONTACT

[email protected]

919-962-7426

Catherine Cheng

CONTACT

[email protected]

919-445-4208

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Other

Collaborators

  • Bellicum Pharmaceuticals
  • M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • United States Department of Defense

Registry information

Official study title

Administration of T Cells Expressing a 2nd Generation GD2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor, IL-15, and iCaspase9 Safety Switch in Subjects With Lung Cancer

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2029
First posted
Nov 17, 2022
Registry last updated
Feb 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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