Interleukin-15 Armored Glypican 3-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Expressed in Autologous T Cells for Solid Tumors

Summary

Patients may be considered if the cancer has come back, has not gone away after standard treatment or the patient cannot receive standard treatment. This research study uses special immune system cells called CATCH T cells, a new experimental treatment.

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. Antibodies are types of proteins that protect the body from infectious diseases and possibly cancer. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill other cells, including cells infected with viruses and tumor 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.

Investigators have found from previous research that we can put a new gene (a tiny part of what makes-up DNA and carriesa person's traits) into T cells that will make them recognize cancer cells and kill them . In the lab, we made several genes called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), from an antibody called GC33. The antibody GC33 recognizes a protein called GPC3 that is found on the hepatocellular carcinoma the patient has. The specific CAR we are making is called GPC3-CAR. To make this CAR more effective, we also added a gene encoding protein called IL15. This protein helps CAR T cells grow better and stay in the blood longer so that they may kill tumors better. The mixture of GPC3-CAR and IL15 killed tumor cells better in the laboratory when compared with CAR T cells that did not have IL 15. This study will test T cells that we have made with CATCH T cells in patients with GPC3-positive solid tumors such as the ones participating in this study.

T cells made to carry a gene called iCasp9 can be killed when they encounter a specific drug called AP1903. The investigators will insert the iCasp9 and IL15 together into the T cells using a virus that has been made for this study. The drug (AP1903) is an experimental drug that has been tested in humans with no bad side-effects. The investigators will use this drug to kill the T cells if necessary due to side effects.

This study will test T cells genetically engineered with a GPC3-CAR and IL15 (CATCH T cells) in patients with GPC3-positive solid tumors.

The CATCH T cells are an investigational product not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The purpose of this study is to find the biggest dose of CATCH T cells that is safe , to see how long they last in the body, to learn what the side effects are and to see if the CATCH T cells will help people with GPC3-positive solid tumors.

Conditions

• Liver Cell Carcinoma
• Solid Tumor
• Wilms Tumor
• Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor
• Yolk Sac Tumor
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Liposarcoma
• Embryonal Sarcoma of the Liver

Interventions

GENETIC

CATCH T cells

Four different dosing schedules will be evaluated. Three to six patients will be evaluated on each dosing schedule. The following dose levels will be evaluated: DL1: 3x10\^7/m2 DL2: 1x10\^8/m2 DL3: 3x10\^8/m2 DL4: 1x10\^9/m2 The doses are calculated according to the actual number of GPC3-CAR transduced T cells.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• Baylor College of Medicine

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tannaz Armaghany, MD · Baylor College of Medicine

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-06-17

Primary Completion

2025-01-13

Completion

2040-12-31

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations