Phase 1 Trial of GPC2-Directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor Autologous T Cells (GPC2 CAR T) for Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma and Metastatic Retinoblastoma
Summary
This is a first in human dose escalation trial to determine the safety of administering GPC2 CAR T cells in patients with advanced neuroblastoma or retinoblastoma.
Detailed description
Despite the use of intensive multimodal chemoradiotherapy, surgery, autologous stem cell transplant and GD2-targeted immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, approximately 60% of children still die from this disease and survivors suffer lifelong treatment related comorbidities. Similarly, children with retinoblastoma with extra-ocular metastasis experience a poor prognosis despite the availability of intensive systemic chemotherapy or external beam radiation therapy. Among children with metastatic retinoblastoma treated with intensive multimodality treatment, 3-year Event Free Survival ranges from 14 to 77% depending on central nervous system (CNS) involvement. For neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma patients who suffer a relapse after receiving therapy with standard of care multimodality treatment, there are no known curative options. Glypican 2 (GPC2) is highly expressed on the plasma membrane of most high-risk neuroblastomas and retinoblastomas, is further enriched in the tumor stem cell compartment, but is not expressed at significant levels on normal tissues, making it an ideal target for immune directed therapies. To therapeutically leverage GPC2's differential expression, we have developed a GPC2-directed CAR T cell therapy that potently inhibits the growth of neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma patient-derived xenografts. This investigation will be a single institution, open label first in human, dose escalation and expansion study designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and manufacturing feasibility of GPC2 CAR T cells.
Arms & interventions
- BiologicalGPC2 CAR T cells
The GPC2 CAR T investigational product is comprised of autologous human T cells that have been genetically modified to express a GPC2-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transgene.
Outcome measures
Primary
Determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose of GPC2 CAR T cells
The Maximum Tolerated Dose of GPC2 CAR T cells will be determined by measuring the incidence of dose limiting toxicities following administration of the product.
Time frame: 5 years
Frequency of Adverse Events Following GPC2 CAR T cell administration
Assess the frequency and severity of treatment related adverse events following administration of GPC2 CAR T cells.
Time frame: 5 years
Secondary
Manufacturing Feasibility of GPC2 CAR T cells
Time frame: 5 years
Persistence of GPC2 CAR T cells
Time frame: 5 years
Preliminarily define the clinical activity of GPC2 CAR T in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma or metastatic retinoblastoma
Time frame: 5 years
Severity of Adverse Events Following GPC2 CAR T cell administration.
Time frame: 5 years
Eligibility criteria
Study locations (1)
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
References
- Giudice AM, Matlaga S, Roth SL, Gladney W, Groff D, Hofmann TJ, McDaid KS, Pascual-Pasto G, McIntyre B, Zecchino V, Martinez D, Spear TT, Wolpaw AJ, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Pogoriler J, Pawel B, Barrett D, Grupp SA, Maris JM, Bosse KR. D3-GPC2-Directed CAR T Cells Are Safe and Efficacious in Preclinical Models of Neuroblastoma and Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Dec 15;31(24):5276-5293. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-0089.(PubMed)