GPC2 CAR T Cells for Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma and Metastatic Retinoblastoma

NCT ID: NCT05650749

Last Updated: 2025-10-21

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-05-23

Study Completion Date

2030-01-30

Brief Summary

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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

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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.

Conditions

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Refractory Neuroblastoma Relapsed Neuroblastoma High-risk Neuroblastoma Retinoblastoma Metastatic Retinoblastoma

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SEQUENTIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Dose Escalation Arm

The dose escalation arm will determine the maximum tolerated dose of GPC2 CAR T cells using a standard 3+3 trial design.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

GPC2 CAR T cells

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

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.

Dose Expansion Arm

If at least one dose from the dose expansion arm is determined to be safe, additional patients will be enrolled to the dose expansion arm to preliminarily evaluate the rate of response to GPC2 CAR T cells and further characterize the safety profile of GPC2 CAR T cells.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

GPC2 CAR T cells

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

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.

Interventions

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GPC2 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.

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients must be ≥ 1 year of age
2. Patients must have high-risk neuroblastoma according to COG risk classification at the time of study enrollment. Patients who were initially considered low- or intermediate-risk, but then reclassified as high-risk are also eligible.
3. Patients must have a previously histologically confirmed diagnosis of neuroblastoma:

1. That is recurrent/relapsed or refractory/persistent according to INRC (see Section 21.1) AND
2. For which standard curative measures do not exist or are no longer effective.
3. patients at first relapse are eligible as no known curative therapies exist for relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma.
4. Patients must have evaluable or measurable disease at enrollment.
5. In addition, patient must have experienced at least one of the following:

a. New disease site documented on at least one of the following: i. 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) or 18F-mFBG (meta-fluorobenzylguanidine) scan; OR ii. CT/MRI; OR iii. FDG or Ga-68 Dotatate PET (in patients known to have MIBG non-avid tumor) and MRI findings consistent with tumor (i.e., bone lesions), OR iv. Biopsy confirmed neuroblastoma for any new or progressing lesion. b. Greater than 20% increase in a least one dimension of soft tissue mass documented by CT/MRI and a minimum absolute increase of 5 mm in longest dimension in existing lesion(s). Previously irradiated lesions may be included.

c. Bone marrow biopsy shows progressive disease according to the revised INRC (refer to Table 17) d. Stable persistent disease, such that response at the completion of upfront therapy or salvage therapy is less than partial response AND has a biopsy of at least one site showing viable neuroblastoma.

e. Responding persistent disease, defined as at least a partial response to frontline therapy (i.e., at least a partial response to frontline therapy but still has residual disease by MIBG scan, CT/MRI, or bone marrow aspirations/biopsies). Patients in this category are required to have histologic confirmation of viable neuroblastoma from at least one residual site (tumor seen on routine bone marrow morphology is sufficient).
6. Patients must have a Lansky (≤ 16 years) or Karnofsky (\> 16 years) score of ≥ 60 (See Table 13)
7. Patients must have adequate renal function defined as age-adjusted serum creatinine ≤1.5 ULN for age.
8. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (exception: total bilirubin ≤ 3 ULN for patients with Gilbert's Disease)
9. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 ULN (exception: AST ≤ 5 x ULN for patients with liver metastases).
10. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 ULN (exception: ALT ≤ 5 x ULN for patients with liver metastases).
11. Patients must have a baseline pulse oximetry of at least 92% on room air. In addition, a DLCO ≥ 60% (corrected for anemia) is required if PFTs are clinically appropriate as determined by the treating investigator.
12. Left ventricular shortening fraction (LVSF) ≥28% or ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% confirmed by Echo, or adequate ventricular function documented by a scan or a cardiologist.


1. Patient age ≥ 6 months.
2. Patients must have metastatic retinoblastoma according to International Retinoblastoma Staging System (IRSS) risk classification (4) at the time of study enrollment:

a. Retinoblastoma Cohort 1 (Extra-CNS metastasis) i. Stage IVa disease ii. Extra-CNS disease must be confirmed as retinoblastoma by histology (either at diagnosis or recurrence) iii. Measurable disease: Defined as \> 1cm2 or biopsy-proven bone marrow disease iv. Prior treatment: Recurrent or refractory disease following treatment with COG ARET0321-like or equivalent regimen as part of upfront or recurrent therapy b. Retinoblastoma Cohort 2 (CNS disease) i. Stage IVb disease ii. Histologic confirmation is not required iii. CNS disease defined as measurable disease \>1cm2, non-measurable, or CSF positivity alone c. Prior treatment: i. Stage IVb.1 and IVb.2: Recurrent after treatment with COG ARET0321-like or equivalent regimen as part of upfront or recurrent therapy (see appendix 21.2) i. Stage IVb.3: Prior treatment is not required (i.e., eligible at initial diagnosis or recurrence) (see appendix 21.2)
3. Patients must have a Lansky (≤ 16 years) or Karnofsky (\> 16 years) score of ≥ 60 (See Table 13)
4. Patients must have adequate renal function defined as age-adjusted serum creatinine ≤1.5 ULN .
5. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (exception: total bilirubin ≤ 3 ULN for patients with Gilbert's Disease)
6. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 ULN (exception: AST ≤ 5 x ULN for patients with liver metastases).
7. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 ULN (exception: ALT ≤ 5 x ULN for patients with liver metastases).
8. Patients must have a baseline pulse oximetry of at least 92% on room air. In addition, a DLCO ≥ 60% (corrected for anemia) is required if PFTs are clinically appropriate as determined by the treating investigator.
9. Left ventricular shortening fraction (LVSF) ≥28% or ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% confirmed by Echo, or adequate ventricular function documented by a scan or a cardiologist.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with active hepatitis B or active hepatitis C.
2. Patients with HIV infection.
3. Patients with uncontrolled active infection.
4. Patients with primary or acquired immunodeficiency disorder.
5. Patients with a known hypersensitivity to DMSO.
6. Concurrent use of systemic steroids or immunosuppression at the time of cell infusion or cell collection, or a condition, in the treating physician's opinion, that is likely to require steroid therapy or immunosuppression during collection or after infusion. Steroids for disease treatment at times other than cell collection or at the time of infusion are permitted. Use of physiologic replacement hydrocortisone or inhaled steroids is permitted as well.
7. Patients with actively progressing CNS metastases, including parenchymal or leptomeningeal involvement. (Note: CNS imaging at screening is only required if the there is a clinical indication of suspected CNS metastasis)
8. Active medical disorder that, in the opinion of the investigator, would substantially increase the risk of uncontrollable CRS and/or neurotoxicity.
9. Patients with congestive heart failure (as defined by New York Heart Association Functional Classification III or IV), unstable angina, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, a myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry or a history of myocarditis.
10. Patients who have received any live vaccines within 30 days prior to enrollment.
11. Patients who are pregnant or nursing (lactating).
12. Patients who have a life expectancy \< 6 months at time of consent.


1. Patients with active hepatitis B or active hepatitis C.
2. Patients with HIV infection.
3. Patients with uncontrolled active infection.
4. Patients with primary or acquired immunodeficiency disorder.
5. Patients with a known hypersensitivity to DMSO.
6. Concurrent use of systemic steroids or immunosuppression at the time of cell infusion or cell collection, or a condition, in the treating physician's opinion, that is likely to require steroid therapy or immunosuppression during collection or after infusion. Steroids for disease treatment at times other than cell collection or at the time of infusion are permitted. Use of physiologic replacement hydrocortisone or inhaled steroids is permitted as well.
7. Active medical disorder that, in the opinion of the investigator, would substantially increase the risk to the subject.
8. Patients with congestive heart failure (as defined by New York Heart Association Functional Classification III or IV), unstable angina, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, a myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry or a history of myocarditis.
9. Patients who have received any live vaccines within 30 days prior to enrollment.
10. Patients who are pregnant or nursing (lactating).
11. Patients who have a life expectancy \< 6 months at time of consent.
12. Retinoblastoma Cohort 1 (Extra-CNS disease):

1. Concurrent CNS disease (they may be eligible for Retinoblastoma Cohort 2)
2. Stage III disease (orbital or lymph node regional extension without other hematogenous metastases).
13. Retinoblastoma Cohort 2 (CNS disease):

1. "Bulky" disease (\>5 cm in diameter) within or compressing the brainstem or thalamus. Note: Tumors touching the brainstem/thalamus without evidence of compression and/or tumors in other CNS locations do not have a maximal size criterion.
2. Evidence of increased intracranial pressure.
Minimum Eligible Age

1 Year

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Gilead Sciences

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kite, A Gilead Company

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Stephan Grupp MD PhD

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Stephan Grupp MD PhD

Chief, Cell Therapy and Transplant Section Director, Susan S. and Stephen P. Kelly Center for Cancer Immunotherapy Medical Director, Cell and Gene Therapy Lab

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Lisa Wray, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Locations

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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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CART Nurse Navigator

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 445-942-5891

Email: [email protected]

Melissa Varghese, M.S.

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 8455535358

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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CART Nurse Navigator

Role: primary

Melissa Varghese, M.S.

Role: backup

References

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Giudice AM, Matlaga S, Roth SL, Gladney W, Groff D, Hofmann TJ, 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 Sep 30. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-0089. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 41026583 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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1R37CA282041-01A1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

22CT012

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

22-019659

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id