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Malignant Brain NeoplasmPhase 1NCT04510051

CAR T Cells After Lymphodepletion for the Treatment of IL13Rα2 Positive Recurrent or Refractory Brain Tumors in Children

A Phase 1 study testing Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine and IL13Ralpha2-specific Hinge-optimized 41BB-co-stimulatory CAR Truncated CD19-expressing Autologous T-Lymphocytes in people with Malignant Brain Neoplasm and Recurrent Malignant Brain Neoplasm, run by City of Hope Medical Center at 3 sites in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This phase I trial investigates the side effects of chemotherapy and cellular immunotherapy in treating children with IL13Ralpha2 positive brain tumors that have come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or do not respond to treatment (refractory). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 4 to 25 years
What is being tested?
Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine and IL13Ralpha2-specific Hinge-optimized 41BB-co-stimulatory CAR Truncated CD19-expressing Autologous T-Lymphocytes
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
18 participants
Where
3 sitesUnited States
Study dates
11 Dec 2020to 24 Feb 2027
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 4 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative.
  • Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained per institutional guidelines
  • Agreement to allow the use of archival tissue from diagnostic tumor biopsies
  • Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) >= 60% except for loss of mobility due to disease involvement; e.g., confinement to a wheelchair due to spinal cord compression
  • Life expectancy > 4 weeks
  • Participant has a prior histologically-confirmed malignant brain neoplasm and has progressed after prior conventional therapy
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  • Radiographic evidence of progression/recurrence of the measurable disease more than 12 weeks after the end of the initial conventional therapy (including initial radiation therapy)
  • City of Hope (COH) clinical pathology confirms IL13Ralpha2+ tumor expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) at the initial tumor presentation or recurrent disease (H-score >= 50)
  • If the participant has a shunt, it must be programmable and the participant must be able to tolerate the shunt being switched off for at least 2 consecutive days
  • Platelets >= 50,000/mm^3 (performed within 6 weeks of signing the main informed consent)
  • Total bilirubin =< 2 X upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless has Gilbert's disease) (performed within 6 weeks of signing the main informed consent)
  • Aspartate transaminase (AST) =< 2 x ULN (performed within 6 weeks of signing the main informed consent)
  • Alanine transferase (ALT) =< 2 x ULN (performed within 6 weeks of signing the main informed consent)
  • Creatinine clearance of >= 75mL/min/1.73m^2 (performed within 6 weeks of signing the main informed consent)
  • Seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen (Ag)/antibody (Ab) combo, hepatitis C virus (HCV)* and active HBV (surface antigen negative) (performed within 6 weeks of signing the main informed consent)
  • If positive, hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (RNA) quantitation must be performed
  • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): Negative urine or serum pregnancy test. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required (to be performed within 6 weeks of signing the main informed consent)
  • Agreement by females and males of childbearing potential* to use an effective method of birth control or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through at least 6 months after the last dose of protocol therapy.
  • Childbearing potential defined as not being surgically sterilized (males and females) or have not been free, once initiated, from menses for > 1 year (females only)
  • ELIGIBILITY TO PROCEED WITH PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR COLLECTION (PBMC) COLLECTION
  • Research participant must not require more than 0.1mg/kg/day total dose (0.03mg/kg/dose three times per day, max of 6mg/day) of Dexamethasone on the day of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) collection
  • Research participant must have appropriate venous access
  • At least 2 weeks must have elapsed since the research participant received his/her last dose of prior targeted agents, chemotherapy or radiation
  • Note: If a research participant weighs less than 50kgs, the study team should provide the Donor Apheresis Center (DAC) with the participant's current weight so that institutional guidelines can be followed
  • ELIGIBILITY TO PROCEED WITH INDWELLING CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) CATHETER PLACEMENT
  • Serum creatinine < 1.6 mg/dL
  • White blood cell (WBC) >= 2,000/dL
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1,000
  • Platelets > 50,000/dL
  • International normalized ratio =< 1.3
  • Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL
  • Alanine transferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) < 2 x upper limits of normal
  • KPS >= 60% except for loss of mobility due to disease involvement; e.g., confinement to a wheelchair due to spinal cord compression
  • Second-line radiation therapy (post-leukapheresis) completed at least 4 weeks prior to surgical resection or biopsy/catheter placement
  • ELIGIBILITY TO PROCEED WITH LYMPHODEPLETION
  • Pulmonary: Research participant does not require supplemental oxygen to keep saturation greater than 95% and/or does not have presence of any radiographic abnormalities on chest x-ray that are progressive
  • Cardiac: Research participant does not require pressor support and/or does not have symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias
  • Active infection: Research participant does not have a fever exceeding 38.5 degree celsius; there is an absence of positive blood cultures for bacteria, fungus, or virus within 48-hours prior to CAR T cell infusion and/or there aren't any indications of meningitis
  • Hepatic: Research participant serum total bilirubin or transaminases does not exceed 2 x normal limit
  • Renal: Research participant serum creatinine < 1.8 mg/dL
  • Neurologic: Research participant does not have uncontrolled seizure activity following surgery prior to starting lymphodepletion
  • ELIGIBILITY TO PROCEED WITH EACH CAR T CELL INFUSION
  • Research participant has a released cryopreserved T cell product
  • Research participant does not require supplemental oxygen to keep saturation greater than 95% and/or does not have presence of any radiographic abnormalities on chest x-ray that are progressive
  • Research participant does not require pressor support and/or does not have symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias
  • Research participant does not have a fever exceeding 38.5 degree celsius; there is an absence of positive blood cultures for bacteria, fungus, or virus within 48-hours prior to T cell infusion and/or there aren't any indications of meningitis
  • Research participant serum total bilirubin or transaminases does not exceed 2 x normal limit
  • Research participant serum creatinine < 1.8 mg/dL
  • Research participant does not have uncontrolled seizure activity
  • Research participant platelet count must be >= 50,000. However, if platelet level is between 25,000-49,000, then T-cell infusion may proceed after platelet transfusion is given and the post transfusion platelet count is >= 50,000
  • Research participants must not require more than 0.1mg/kg/day total dose (0.03mg/kg/dose three times per day, max of 6mg/day) of dexamethasone during CAR T cell therapy
  • Wash-out requirements:
  • At least 6 weeks since the completion of a nitrosourea-containing chemotherapy regimen;
  • At least 23 days since the completion of temozolomide and/or 4 weeks for any other non-nitrosourea-containing cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen. If a patient's most recent treatment was with a targeted agent only, and s/he has recovered from any toxicity of this targeted agent, then a waiting period of only 2 weeks is needed from the last dose
  • For bevacizumab the wash out period of at least 4 weeks is required before starting study treatment

Who cannot join

  • Pulmonary: Research participant requires supplemental oxygen to keep saturation greater than 95% and the situation is not expected to resolve within 2 weeks
  • Cardiac: Research participant requires pressor support and/or has symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias
  • Renal: Research participant requires dialysis
  • Neurologic: Research participant has uncontrolled seizure activity and/or clinically evident progressive encephalopathy
  • Failure of research participant to understand the basic elements of the protocol and/or the risks/benefits of participating in this phase I study. A legal guardian may substitute for the research participant
  • Research participant with any non-malignant intercurrent illness which is either poorly controlled with currently available treatment, or which is of such severity that the study team deems it unwise to enter the research participant on protocol shall be ineligible
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  • Research participant with any other active malignancies
  • Research participant being treated for severe infection or recovering from major surgery is ineligible until recovery is deemed complete by the study team
  • Research participant with any uncontrolled illness including ongoing or active infection. Research participant with known active hepatitis B or C infection; research participant with any signs or symptoms of active infection, positive blood cultures or radiological evidence of infections
  • Research participant who has confirmed HIV positivity within 4 weeks of enrollment
  • Females only: Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with all study procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics)

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United States3 sites, 3 recruiting

  • C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109

    Santhosh Upadhyaya, MD, 734-936-4000, NeuroOncIntake@med.umich.edu

    Recruiting

  • City of Hope Medical Center

    Duarte, California, 91010

    Leo D. Wang, 1-833-582-4673, PediatricTrials@coh.org

    Leo D. Wang

    Recruiting

  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, California, 90027

    Tom Belle Davidson, MD, 323-361-8147, tdavidson@chla.usc.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Phase I Study of Cellular Immunotherapy Using Memory Enriched T Cells Lentivirally Transduced to Express an IL13Rα2-Targeting, Hinge-Optimized, 41BB-Costimulatory Chimeric Receptor and a Truncated CD19 for Children With Recurrent/Refractory Malignant Brain Tumors

This phase I trial investigates the side effects of chemotherapy and cellular immunotherapy in treating children with IL13Ralpha2 positive brain tumors that have come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or do not respond to treatment (refractory). Cellular immunotherapy (IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells) are brain-tumor specific cells that may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as as cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Many patients with brain tumor respond to treatment, but then the tumor starts to grow again. Giving chemotherapy in combination with cellular immunotherapy may kill more tumor cells and improve the outcome of treatment.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

  1. To assess the feasibility and safety of lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by cellular immunotherapy utilizing IL13Ralpha2-specific hinge-optimized 41BB-co-stimulatory chimeric antigen receptor [CAR] truncated CD19-expressing autologous T-lymphocytes (IL13[EQ]BBzeta/CD19t+ Tn/mem cells) administered by intraventricular (ICV) delivery for pediatric participants with IL13Ralpha2+ recurrent/refractory brain tumors.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

  1. To describe persistence and expansion of CAR T cells in peripheral blood (PB) and cerebrospinal (CSF).

II. To describe cytokine levels (PB, and CSF) over the study period.

III. In research participants who receive the full schedule of 4 CAR T cell cycles:

IIIa. To estimate 6-month progression free survival (PFS) rate per disease. IIIb. To estimate disease response rates per disease. IIIc. To estimate 1-year overall survival rate per disease. IV. To evaluate the use of circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) to evaluate tumor burden.

  1. For study participants who undergo an additional biopsy/resection or autopsy:

Va. To evaluate CAR T cell persistence in the tumor tissue and the location of the CAR T cells with respect to the infusion site. Vb. To evaluate IL13Ralpha2 antigen expression levels on tumor tissue pre and post CAR T cell therapy.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells.

Patients receive cyclophosphamide intravenously (IV) on days -5 and -4, and fludarabine IV on days -5 to -2. Patients then receive autologous IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells intraventricularly over 5 minutes once a week (QW) on day 0. Treatment with autologous IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells repeats every 7 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may receive additional cycles of IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells as long as they continue to meet eligibility criteria and have doses available for infusion.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for up at 30 days, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and then yearly for 15 years.

Being tested
Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine, IL13Ralpha2-specific Hinge-optimized 41BB-co-stimulatory CAR Truncated CD19-expressing Autologous T-Lymphocytes
Medical subject headings
Brain Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CyclophosphamideDrug

    Also called (-)-Cyclophosphamide, 2H-1,3,2-Oxazaphosphorine, 2-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]tetrahydro-, 2-oxide, monohydrate, Carloxan, Ciclofosfamida

    Given IV

  • FludarabineDrug

    Also called Fluradosa

    Given IV

  • IL13Ralpha2-specific Hinge-optimized 41BB-co-stimulatory CAR Truncated CD19-expressing Autologous T-LymphocytesBiological

    Also called Autologous IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ TCM-enriched T Cells

    Given intraventricularly

Study groups in NCT04510051
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Treatment (chemotherapy, IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells)ExperimentalPatients receive cyclophosphamide intravenously IV on days -5 and -4, and fludarabine IV on days -5 to -2. Patients then receive autologous IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells intraventricularly over 5 minutes QW on day 0. Treatment with autologous IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells repeats every 7 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may receive additional cycles of IL13(EQ)BBzeta/CD19t+ T cells as long as they continue to meet eligibility criteria and have doses available for infusion.
Receives: Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Drug: Fludarabine; Biological: IL13Ralpha2-specific Hinge-optimized 41BB-co-stimulatory CAR Truncated CD19-expressing Autologous T-Lymphocytes

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Incidence of adverse events

    Will assess the incidence of grade 3 toxicities, dose limiting toxicities, and all other toxicities. Toxicity and adverse events will be assessed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version (v) 5.0 and the revised cytokine release syndrome (CRS) grading system. Symptoms and toxicities will be evaluated by physical exam and blood chemistry/hematology results and adverse event reporting. Rate and associated 90% Clopper and Pearson binomial confidence limits (90% CI) will be estimated for participants experiencing dose limiting toxicities. Tables will be created to summarize all toxicities and side effects by time post treatment, organ, severity and disease subgroup.

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last chimeric antigen response (CAR) T cell infusion

Secondary outcomes (9)

  1. Persistence and expansion of CAR T cells

    Will assess CAR T cells detected in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Descriptive statistical and graphical methods will be used to describe persistence and expansion of the CAR T cells (peripheral blood [PB] and CSF).

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

  2. Peripheral blood and CSF cytokine levels

    Descriptive statistical and graphical methods will be used to describe cytokine levels (PB and CSF).

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

  3. Peripheral blood and CSF immune cell characterization

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

  4. Progression free survival

    Measured: From time of lymphodepletion to the event date (progressionor death), assessed at 6 months

  5. Overall survival

    Measured: From time of lymphodepletion to date of death, assessed at 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

  6. Disease response

    Will estimate the rate (90% confidence interval [CI]) of disease response Disease status will be assessed by the grading of the tumor responses performed according to the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Criteria (RANO) criteria.

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

  7. CAR T cells detected in tumor tissue

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

  8. IL13Ralpha2 antigen expression levels in tumor tissue

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

  9. Circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) assessments

    Descriptive statistical and graphical methods will be used to describe ctDNA.

    Measured: Up to 1 year after the last CAR T cell infusion

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Aug 2020
  2. Study start11 Dec 2020
  3. Primary completion24 Feb 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion24 Feb 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
18 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04510051
Sponsor's protocol ID
19130
Other IDs
NCI-2020-05158, 19130, P30CA033572
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
10 Aug 2020
Last updated
15 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine and IL13Ralpha2-specific Hinge-optimized 41BB-co-stimulatory CAR Truncated CD19-expressing Autologous T-Lymphocytes in people with Malignant Brain Neoplasm and Recurrent Malignant Brain Neoplasm, run by City of Hope Medical Center at 3 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 55 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Incidence of adverse events (time frame: Up to 1 year after the last chimeric antigen response (CAR) T cell infusion). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04510051.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Oct 2026.

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