3rd Generation GD-2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor and iCaspase Suicide Safety Switch, Neuroblastoma, GRAIN

Sponsor

Baylor College of Medicine (Other)

Overall Status

Active, not recruiting

CT.gov ID

NCT01822652

Collaborator

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine (Other), The Methodist Hospital Research Institute (Other), Solving Kids' Cancer (Other), The Evan Foundation (Other), National Cancer Institute (NCI) (NIH), Kids Cancer Research Foundation (Other)

Enrollment

Locations

Arms

206

Duration (Months)

5.5

Patients Per Site

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Subjects that have relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma are invited to take part in this gene transfer research study.

We have found from previous research that we can put a new gene called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) into T cells that will make them recognize neuroblastoma cells and kill them. In a previous clinical trial, we used a CAR that recognizes GD2, a protein found on almost all neuroblastoma cells (GD2-CAR). We put this gene into T cells and gave them back to patients that had neuroblastoma. The infusions were safe and in patients with disease at the time of their infusion, the time to progression was longer if we could find GD2 T cells in their blood for more than 6 weeks. Because of this, we think that if T cells are able to last longer, they may have a better chance of killing neuroblastoma tumor cells.

Therefore, in this study we will add new genes to the GD2 T cells that can cause the cells to live longer. These new genes are called CD28 and OX40. The purpose of this study will be to determine the highest dose of iC9-GD2-CD28-OX40 (iC9-GD2) T cells that can safely be given to patients with relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma.

In other clinical studies using T cells, some 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 we infuse to expand and stay longer in the body, and potentially kill cancer cells more effectively.

The chemotherapy we will use for lymphodepletion is a combination of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine.

Additionally, to effectively kill the tumor cells, it is important that the T cells are able to survive and expand in the tumor. Recent studies have shown that solid tumors release a substance (PD1) that can inhibit T cells after they arrive into the tumor tissue. In an attempt to overcome the effect of PD1 in neuroblastoma we will also give a medication called pembrolizumab.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Neuroblastoma	Genetic: iC9-GD2 T Cells - frozen Genetic: iC9-GD2 T Cells - fresh Drug: Cytoxan Drug: Fludara Drug: Keytruda Genetic: iC9-GD2 T cells	Phase 1

Detailed Description

We will make iC9-GD2 T cells by infecting normal T cells with a retroviral vector containing the iC9-GD2 gene. After the new gene has been put into the T cells, the cells will be tested to make sure that they kill GD2-positive neuroblastoma cells and then will be either given fresh or frozen until the patient is ready for their infusion.

First, patients will receive cyclophosphamide and fludarabine intravenously (through a needle inserted into a vein or your port-a-cath) for 2 days and then fludarabine alone for one day (Day -4, -3,-2). On the next day (Day -1) patients will receive the drug called pembrolizumab intravenously. Finally on Day 0 patients will be given an infusion of iC9 GD2 T cells into the vein through an IV line at the assigned dose.

The iC9-GD2 T cell infusion will be given by the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Texas Children's Hospital or Houston Methodist Hospital. The infusion will take between 5 and 10 minutes. Patients may need to stay in Houston for up to 4 weeks after the infusion so we can monitor them for side effects.

On Day 21 (at the time of the week 3 visit), if the treatment was well tolerated, patients will receive another dose of pembrolizumab intravenously.

There will be follow-up visits every 1-2 weeks during the first 2 months and then they will be spaced out over a total of 15 years. Because the cells are modified with a new gene we must follow patients for at least 15 years to see if there are any long term side effects of gene transfer. During the visits, we will see how the patients are doing and during certain time points we will obtain extra blood samples to learn more about the way the iC9-GD2 T cells are working and how long they last in the body.

After disease re-evaluation, if disease has not gotten worse, or if in the future it seems that patient might benefit and they have not had a severe side effect caused by the infusion of their iC9-GD2 T cells, patients may be eligible to receive up to 2 additional doses of their T cells. Each dose will be at the same dose level as their first infusion and separated by at least 6 weeks such that we can make sure patients have no severe side effects between infusions. If patients receive additional doses of iC9-GD2 T-cells, they may need to stay in Houston for up to 4 weeks after the infusion as well so we can monitor them for side effects. If there were no severe side effects from pembrolizumab, patients will receive pembrolizumab again with the iC9 GD2 T cells on the day before the T cell injection and 21 days after the T cells.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

11 participants

Allocation:

Non-Randomized

Intervention Model:

Single Group Assignment

Masking:

None (Open Label)

Primary Purpose:

Treatment

Official Title:

Autologous Activated T-Cells Transduced With A 3rd Generation GD-2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor And iCaspase9 Safety Switch Administered To Patients With Relapsed Or Refractory Neuroblastoma (GRAIN)

Study Start Date :

Aug 1, 2013

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2015

Anticipated Study Completion Date :

Oct 1, 2030

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: iC9-GD2 T Cells - fresh - CLOSED The cells will be given IV over 5-10 minutes. There is a possibility for additional doses of iC9-GD2 T cells.	Genetic: iC9-GD2 T Cells - fresh For subjects who will receive a fresh T cell product: Dose Level 1 = 1 x 10^8 Dose Level 2 = 1.5 x 10^8 Dose Level 3 = 2 x 10^8 Six weeks after the infusion, patients will have a disease re-evaluation. If the disease has not gotten worse AND they have not had a severe side effect caused by the infusion of the iC9-GD2 T cells, the subject may be eligible to receive up to 2 additional doses of T cells. Each dose will be at the same dose level as the first infusion, if available, and separated by at least 6 weeks.
Experimental: iC9-GD2 T Cells - frozen - CLOSED The cells will be given IV over 5-10 minutes. There is a possibility for additional doses of iC9-GD2 T cells.	Genetic: iC9-GD2 T Cells - frozen Subjects will receive the iC9-GD2 T cells through an IV over 5 to 10 minutes. Subjects will receive one of the following dose levels (cells/m2): Dose Level 1 = 1 x 10^7 Dose Level 2 = 1 x 10^8 Dose Level 3 = 2 x 10^8 Six weeks after the infusion, patients will have a disease re-evaluation. If the disease has not gotten worse AND they have not had a severe side effect caused by the infusion of the iC9-GD2 T cells, the subject may be eligible to receive up to 2 additional doses of T cells. Each dose will be at the same dose level as the first infusion, if available, and separated by at least 6 weeks.
Experimental: iC9-GD2 T cells,Cytoxan,Fludara,Keytruda Fresh T cells will be given IV over 5-10 mins. There is a possibility for additional doses of iC9-GD2 T cells.	Drug: Cytoxan Cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2/day x 2 days, for patients <12 kg = 16.7 mg/kg/day x 2 days) Other Names: Cyclophosphamide Drug: Fludara Fludarabine (30 mg/m2/day x 3 days, for patients <12 kg = 1 mg/kg/day x 3 days) Other Names: Fludarabine Drug: Keytruda Pembrolizumab (2 mg/kg on Day -1 and on Day 21). Other Names: Pembrolizumab Genetic: iC9-GD2 T cells For subjects who will receive a fresh T cell product: Dose Level 1 = 1.5 x 10^8 Dose Level 2 = 2 x 10^8 Six weeks after the infusion, patients will have a disease re-evaluation. If the disease has not gotten worse AND they have not had a severe side effect caused by the infusion of the iC9-GD2 T cells, the subject may be eligible to receive up to 2 additional doses of T cells. Each dose will be at the same dose level as the first infusion, if available, and separated by at least 6 weeks.

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: iC9-GD2 T Cells - fresh - CLOSED

The cells will be given IV over 5-10 minutes. There is a possibility for additional doses of iC9-GD2 T cells.

Genetic: iC9-GD2 T Cells - fresh

For subjects who will receive a fresh T cell product: Dose Level 1 = 1 x 10^8 Dose Level 2 = 1.5 x 10^8 Dose Level 3 = 2 x 10^8 Six weeks after the infusion, patients will have a disease re-evaluation. If the disease has not gotten worse AND they have not had a severe side effect caused by the infusion of the iC9-GD2 T cells, the subject may be eligible to receive up to 2 additional doses of T cells. Each dose will be at the same dose level as the first infusion, if available, and separated by at least 6 weeks.

Experimental: iC9-GD2 T Cells - frozen - CLOSED

The cells will be given IV over 5-10 minutes. There is a possibility for additional doses of iC9-GD2 T cells.

Genetic: iC9-GD2 T Cells - frozen

Subjects will receive the iC9-GD2 T cells through an IV over 5 to 10 minutes. Subjects will receive one of the following dose levels (cells/m2): Dose Level 1 = 1 x 10^7 Dose Level 2 = 1 x 10^8 Dose Level 3 = 2 x 10^8 Six weeks after the infusion, patients will have a disease re-evaluation. If the disease has not gotten worse AND they have not had a severe side effect caused by the infusion of the iC9-GD2 T cells, the subject may be eligible to receive up to 2 additional doses of T cells. Each dose will be at the same dose level as the first infusion, if available, and separated by at least 6 weeks.

Experimental: iC9-GD2 T cells,Cytoxan,Fludara,Keytruda

Fresh T cells will be given IV over 5-10 mins. There is a possibility for additional doses of iC9-GD2 T cells.

Drug: Cytoxan

Cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2/day x 2 days, for patients <12 kg = 16.7 mg/kg/day x 2 days)

Other Names:

Cyclophosphamide

Drug: Fludara

Fludarabine (30 mg/m2/day x 3 days, for patients <12 kg = 1 mg/kg/day x 3 days)

Other Names:

Fludarabine

Drug: Keytruda

Pembrolizumab (2 mg/kg on Day -1 and on Day 21).

Other Names:

Pembrolizumab

Genetic: iC9-GD2 T cells

For subjects who will receive a fresh T cell product: Dose Level 1 = 1.5 x 10^8 Dose Level 2 = 2 x 10^8 Six weeks after the infusion, patients will have a disease re-evaluation. If the disease has not gotten worse AND they have not had a severe side effect caused by the infusion of the iC9-GD2 T cells, the subject may be eligible to receive up to 2 additional doses of T cells. Each dose will be at the same dose level as the first infusion, if available, and separated by at least 6 weeks.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Dose limiting toxicities at 6 weeks post T cell infusion [6 weeks after infusion of the last dose of iC9-GD2 T cells to all patients on the study]
We will measure and assess the adverse events to find the maximum tolerated dose of iC9-GD2 T cells and the safety profile of iC9-GD2 T cells.

Secondary Outcome Measures

To evaluate the expansion and persistence of 3rd generation iC9-GD2 T cells [15 years]
We will determine the expansion and functional persistence of iC9-GD2 T cells in the peripheral blood of patients using transgene detection by quantitative real-time PCR and response of transgenic cells to tumor antigen and to dimerizing drug in vitro.
Time to progression of disease [15 years]
To describe the overall response rate and disease-free survival.
Change in serum cytokine and chemokine levels [15 years]
The changes in patients' serum cytokine and chemokine levels after iC9-GD2 T cell infusion

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

N/A and Older

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

PROCUREMENT

High risk neuroblastoma with persistent or relapsed disease
Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
Karnofsky/Lansky score of 60% or greater
Absence of 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

TREATMENT:

High risk neuroblastoma with persistent or relapsed disease
Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
Karnofsky/Lansky score of 60% or greater
Patients must have an ANC greater than or equal to 500, platelet count greater than or equal to 20,000
Pulse Ox greater than or equal to 90% on room air
AST and ALT less than 5 times the upper limit of normal
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
TSH normal for age. Patients using thyroid medication to facilitate a euthyroid state must be on a stable dose for at least 1 month prior to planned infusion
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
Absence of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) prior to enrollment for patients who have received prior therapy with murine antibodies
Patients must have autologous transduced activated T-cells with greater than or equal to 20% expression of GD2
Pembrolizumab available for infusion
Informed consent and assent (as applicable) obtained from parent/guardian and child

Exclusion Criteria:

PROCUREMENT:

Rapidly progressive disease
History of hypersensitivity to murine protein containing products

TREATMENT:

Rapidly progressive disease
Currently receiving other investigational drugs
History of hypersensitivity to murine protein containing products
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 normal limits. 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).
Evidence of tumor potentially causing airway obstruction
Patients who are pregnant, lactating, or unwilling to use birth control
Patients currently receiving immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids, tacrolimus or cyclosporine
Patients previously experienced severe toxicity from cyclophosphamide or fludarabine
Severe previous toxicity from pembrolizumab or other PD-1 targeted antibody