C7R-GD2.CART Cells for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma and Other GD2 Positive Cancers (GAIL-N)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03635632 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : August 17, 2018
Last Update Posted : November 19, 2021
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This study is for patients with neuroblastoma, sarcoma, uveal melanoma, breast cancer, or another cancer that expresses a substance on the cancer cells called GD2. The cancer has either come back after treatment or did not respond to treatment. Because there is no standard treatment at this time, patients are asked to volunteer in a gene transfer research study using special immune cells called T cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection.
The body has different ways of fighting infection and disease. No single way seems perfect for fighting cancers. This research study combines two different ways of fighting cancer: antibodies and T cells. Both antibodies and T cells have been used to treat patients with cancers. They have shown promise but have not been strong enough to cure most patients.
We have found from previous research that we can put a new gene into T cells that will make them recognize cancer cells and kill them. In our last clinical trial we made a gene called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) from an antibody that recognizes GD2, a substance found on almost all neuroblastoma cells (GD2-CAR). We put this gene into the patients' own T cells and gave them back to 11 neuroblastoma patients. We saw that the cells did grow for a while, but started to disappear from the blood after 2 weeks. We think that if T cells are able to last longer they may have a better chance of killing GD2 positive tumor cells.
Therefore, in this study we will add a new gene to the GD2 T cells that can cause the cells to live longer. T cells need substances called cytokines to survive and the cells may not get enough cytokines after infusion. We have added the gene C7R that gives the cells a constant supply of cytokine and helps them to survive for a longer period of time.
In other studies using T cells, investigators found that giving chemotherapy before the T cell infusion can improve the amount of time the T cells stay in the body and therefore the effect the T cells can have. This is called lymphodepletion and we think that it will allow the T cells to expand and stay longer in the body, and potentially kill cancer cells more effectively.
The GD2-C7R T cells are an investigational product not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The purpose of this study is to find the largest safe dose of GD2-C7R T cells, and also to evaluate how long they can be detected in the blood and what affect they have on cancer.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Relapsed Neuroblastoma Refractory Neuroblastoma Relapsed Osteosarcoma Relapsed Ewing Sarcoma Relapsed Rhabdomyosarcoma Uveal Melanoma Phyllodes Breast Tumor | Genetic: C7R-GD2.CART cells Drug: Cyclophosphamide Drug: Fludarabine | Phase 1 |

Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 94 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Phase I Study of Autologous T Lymphocytes Expressing GD2-specific Chimeric Antigen and Constitutively Active IL-7 Receptors for the Treatment of Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma and Other GD2 Positive Solid Cancers(GAIL-N) |
Actual Study Start Date : | April 23, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | June 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2037 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Arm A: High-risk group of patients with lung metastases
Patients will be treated at 4 dose levels. At dose level 0, patients will only receive C7R-GD2.CART cells without lymphodepletion chemotherapy. Three patients will be evaluated and if safety is confirmed patients will be treated with lymphodepletion chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine followed by C7R.GD2.CART cell infusion at 3 dose levels. Starting at dose level 1, the protocol is divided into two arms, a high-risk group of patients with lung metastases (Arm B) and a standard risk group of all other patients (Arm A). The standard risk Arm A includes osteosarcoma patients without pulmonary disease. Starting with dose level 1, each arm will undergo separate dose escalation. |
Genetic: C7R-GD2.CART cells
Drug: Cyclophosphamide If patients receive lymphodepletion, they will receive 2 daily doses of cyclophosphamide (500mg/m2/day) finishing at least 24 hours before T-cell infusion. The drug will be given intravenously (through an IV needle).
Other Name: Cytoxan Drug: Fludarabine If patients receive lymphodepletion, they will receive 3 daily doses of fludarabine (30mg/m2/day) finishing at least 24 hours before T-cell infusion. The drug will be given intravenously (through an IV needle).
Other Name: Fludara |
Experimental: Arm B: Standard risk group of all other patients
Patients will be treated at 4 dose levels. At the dose level 0, patients will only receive C7R-GD2.CART cells without lymphodepletion chemotherapy. Three patients will be evaluated and if safety is confirmed patients will be treated with lymphodepletion chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine followed by C7R.GD2.CART cell infusion at 3 dose levels. Starting at dose level 1, the protocol is divided into two arms, a high-risk group of patients with lung metastases (Arm B) and a standard risk group of all other patients (Arm A). The standard risk Arm A includes osteosarcoma patients without pulmonary disease. Starting with dose level 1, each arm will undergo separate dose escalation. |
Genetic: C7R-GD2.CART cells
Drug: Cyclophosphamide If patients receive lymphodepletion, they will receive 2 daily doses of cyclophosphamide (500mg/m2/day) finishing at least 24 hours before T-cell infusion. The drug will be given intravenously (through an IV needle).
Other Name: Cytoxan Drug: Fludarabine If patients receive lymphodepletion, they will receive 3 daily doses of fludarabine (30mg/m2/day) finishing at least 24 hours before T-cell infusion. The drug will be given intravenously (through an IV needle).
Other Name: Fludara |
- Determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of C7R-GD2.CART Cells [ Time Frame: 4 weeks post T cell infusion ]Toxicity will be evaluated as per the NCI CTCAE version 5.0 with the exception of CRS and neurological toxicities that are related to T-cell infusions.
- Determine Anti-tumor Responses [ Time Frame: 6 to 8 weeks post T cell infusion ]Number of patients with evaluable/measurable disease who have a partial or complete response according to standard disease evaluation criteria

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 1 Year to 74 Years (Child, Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Procurement Inclusion Criteria:
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Evaluable neuroblastoma with persistent or relapsed disease
- Recurrent disease following completion of aggressive multi-drug frontline therapy.
- Progressive disease during aggressive multi-drug frontline therapy.
- Primary resistant/refractory disease (less than partial response by INRC) detected at the conclusion of at least 4 cycles of aggressive multi-drug induction chemotherapy on or according to a standard high-risk treatment protocol
OR Relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma not responsive to standard treatment
OR Patients diagnosed with GD2 positive metastatic uveal melanoma and progressed after at least one prior systemic treatment
OR GD2 positive breast cancer with metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer currently progressive after at least two prior lines of therapy in the advanced setting. Patients with HER2+ disease must have failed two or more different anti-HER2 agents.
OR Patients with other relapsed or refractory solid tumors not responsive to standard treatment with confirmed expression of GD2 by immunohistochemistry testing.
- Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
- Karnofsky/Lansky score of 50% or greater
- Absence of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) prior to enrollment (only in patients that have been previously treated with murine antibodies)
- Informed consent and assent (as applicable) obtained from parent/guardian and child
- Greater than 1 and less than 75 years of age
Treatment Inclusion Criteria:
-
Neuroblastoma with persistent or relapsed disease
- Recurrent disease following completion of aggressive multi-drug frontline therapy.
- Progressive disease during aggressive multi-drug frontline therapy.
- Primary resistant/refractory disease (less than partial response by INRC) detected at the conclusion of at least 4 cycles of aggressive multi-drug induction chemotherapy on or according to a standard high-risk treatment protocol.
OR Relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma not responsive to standard treatment
OR Patients diagnosed with GD2 positive metastatic uveal melanoma and progressed after at least one prior systemic treatment
OR GD2 positive breast cancer with metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer currently progressive after at least two prior lines of therapy in the advanced setting. Patients with HER2+ disease must have failed two or more different anti-HER2 agents.
OR Patients with other relapsed or refractory solid tumors not responsive to standard treatment with confirmed expression of GD2 by immunohistochemistry testing.
- Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
- Karnofsky/Lansky score of 50% or greater
- Patients must have an ANC ≥ 500, platelet count ≥ 20,000
- Pulse Ox ≥ 90% on room air
- AST and ALT less than 5 times the upper limit of normal (less than 10 times upper normal if uveal melanoma with metastatic liver disease)
- Total bilirubin less than 3 times the upper limit of normal
- Serum creatinine less than 3 times upper limit of normal. Creatinine clearance is needed for patients with creatinine greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal.
- At least 4 weeks from completion and recovered from acute effects of all prior chemotherapy. If some effects of therapy have become chronic (i.e., treatment associated thrombocytopenia), the patient must be clinically stable and meet all other eligibility criteria. Maintenance therapy with non-investigational oral antineoplastic drugs is allowed up to 48 hours prior to infusion.
- Absence of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) prior to enrollment for patients who have received prior therapy with murine antibodies
- Patients must have autologous activated T-cells with ≥ 20% expressing GD2.CAR
- Informed consent and assent (as applicable) obtained from parent/guardian and child
- Greater than 1 and less than 75 years of age
Procurement Exclusion Criteria:
- History of hypersensitivity to murine protein containing products (patients who have undergone desensitization and successful re-challenge without hypersensitivity reaction are eligible)
- Active autoimmune disease (requiring immunosuppressive treatment in the past 6 months)
- Primary brain tumor or known brain metastases (on evaluation by MIBG and/or PET if applicable, CT/MRI/LP not required)
Treatment Exclusion Criteria
- Currently receiving other investigational drugs.
- Received any investigational immunotherapies or checkpoint inhibitors within 6 weeks. Immunotherapies include adoptive cell therapies, gene therapies, and tumor vaccines.
- History of hypersensitivity to murine protein containing products (patients who have undergone desensitization and successful re-challenge without hypersensitivity reaction are eligible).
- History of cardiomegaly or bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiograph or CT. However, patients with cardiomegaly on imaging may be enrolled if they have an assessment of cardiac function (i.e., ECHO or MUGA) within 3 weeks of starting protocol therapy that is within acceptable limits (LVSF>28% or LVEF>50%). Additionally, patients with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on imaging may be enrolled if the lesions are not consistent with active neuroblastoma (i.e., negative on functional imaging with PET or MIBG, or by pathologic assessment) or not bulky in other diseases (< 5 cm for each lesion) and patient meet FiO2 criteria (>90% on room air). Baseline pulmonary function testing is required in patients with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates (except young children unable to undergo testing). Patients with poor lung function based on PFT testing (Patients with FEV 1, FVC and DLCO/diffusion capacity < 50%) will not be eligible for treatment on protocol. Patients with intermediate function (FEV 1, FVC and DLCO/diffusion capacity ≥ 50% and < 70% predicted) will require assessment by a pulmonologist prior to treatment.
- Evidence of tumor potentially causing airway obstruction
- Patients must not be pregnant, lactating, or unwilling to use birth control
- Patients must not be currently receiving immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids (prednisone dose of > 0.25 mg/kg/day or equivalent), tacrolimus or cyclosporine
- Active autoimmune disease (requiring immunosuppressive treatment in the past 6 months)
- Primary brain tumor or known brain metastases (on evaluation by MIBG and/or PET if applicable, CT/MRI/LP not required)

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03635632
Contact: Bilal Omer, MD | 832-824-6855 | bomer@bcm.edu | |
Contact: David Allen | 832-824-4391 | dlallen@texaschildrens.org |
United States, Texas | |
Houston Methodist Hospital | Recruiting |
Houston, Texas, United States, 77030 | |
Contact: Bilal Omer, MD 832-824-6855 bomer@bcm.edu | |
Contact: David Allen 832-824-4391 dlallen@texaschildrens.org | |
Texas Children's Hospital | Recruiting |
Houston, Texas, United States, 77030 | |
Contact: Bilal Omer, MD 832-824-6855 bomer@bcm.edu | |
Contact: David Allen 832-824-4391 dlallen@texaschildrens.org |
Principal Investigator: | Bilal Omer, MD | Baylor College of Medicine |
Responsible Party: | Bilal Omer, Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03635632 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
H-42207 GAIL-N |
First Posted: | August 17, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | November 19, 2021 |
Last Verified: | November 2021 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Gene Therapy CAR T-cells Neuroblastoma chimeric antigen receptor Immunotherapy |
Sarcoma Uveal Melanoma Breast cancer GD2 positive cancer |
Melanoma Sarcoma Neuroblastoma Osteosarcoma Rhabdomyosarcoma Sarcoma, Ewing Breast Neoplasms Neuroendocrine Tumors Neuroectodermal Tumors Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue Nevi and Melanomas Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue |
Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms, Bone Tissue Neoplasms, Connective Tissue Myosarcoma Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue Neoplasms by Site Breast Diseases Skin Diseases Cyclophosphamide Fludarabine Immunosuppressive Agents Immunologic Factors |