Autologous CAR-T Cells Targeting CSPG4 in Relapsed/Refractory HNSCC

NCT06096038 | Recruiting Phase 1 DMC FDA Drug

• 2 other identifiers: LCCC2060-ATLR01CA296807-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 33
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and tolerability of using a new treatment called autologous T lymphocyte chimeric antigen receptor cells against the CSPG4 antigen (iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cells) in patients with head and neck cancer that came back after receiving standard therapy for this cancer. The iC9.CAR-CSPG4 treatment is experimental and has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. How many (dose) of the iC9.CAR. CSPG4 T cells are safe to use in patients without causing too many side effects, and what is the maximum dose that could be tolerated will be investigated. The information collected from the study would help cancer patients in the future. There are two parts to this study. In part 1, blood will be collected to prepare the iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cells. Disease fighting T cells will be isolated and modified to prepare the iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cells. In part 2, the iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cells are given by infusion after completion of lymphodepletion chemotherapy. The data from the dose escalation will be used to determine a recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), which will be decided based on the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Additionally, recommended phase 2 dose will be tested. Eligible subjects will receive lymphodepletion chemotherapy standard followed by infusion of iC9-CAR.CSPG4 T cells. After treatment completion or discontinuation, subjects will be followed since involving gene transfer experiments.

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer; Relapse; Recurrent; Refractory Cancer

Keywords

cellular therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Toxicity: NCI-CTCAE

  Toxicity will be graded as the Number of participants with adverse events (AE)s AEs will be classified and graded according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0. Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) is defined as at least possibly related to CAR.B7-H3T cell product administration.

  Up to 4 weeks

• Toxicity: Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

  CRS will be graded according to the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) CRS Consensus Grading. Grade 1 - Mild: Fever ≥38\^ o C, No hypotension, No hypoxia, Grade 2 - Moderate: Fever ≥38\^ o C, Hypotension not requiring vasopressors, Hypoxia requiring low-flow nasal cannula (≤6 L/minute) or blow-by, Grade 3 - Severe: Fever ≥ 38\^ o C, Hypotension requiring a vasopressor with or without vasopressin, Hypoxia requiring high-flow nasal cannula (\>6 L/minute), facemask, nonrebreather mask, or Venturi mask, Grade 4 - Life-threatening: Fever ≥38\^oC, Hypotension requiring multiple vasopressors (excluding vasopressin), Hypoxia requiring positive pressure (e.g. Continuous positive airway pressure, BiPAP, intubation, mechanical ventilation), Grade 5 - Death

  Up to 4 weeks

• Toxicity: Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS)

  Neurotoxicity will be graded according to the Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) criteria. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) symptoms will be graded according to the criteria outlined in the protocol on a scale from 1 (mild) to 4 (critical). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) will be graded according to criteria outlined in the protocol on a scale from 1 (mild) to grade 5 (death).

  Up to 4 weeks

• Dose Limiting Toxicity

  An event will be considered a Dose limiting toxicity per NCI CTCAE version 5.0, the CRS Grading and ICANS grading criteria. * Grade 3-5 allergic reactions related to the CAR-T cell infusion. * A treatment-emergent Grade 3 CRS that does not improve to Grade 0-1 by 72 hours or Grade 4 CRS * Grade ≥3 ICANS that is unresponsive to the standard of care interventions and does not decrease to Grade ≤1 within 7 days or grade 4 ICANS of any duration that has evidence of cerebral edema and/or generalized convulsive status epilepticus. * Any treatment-emergent Grade 4 non-hematologic AE that does not resolve to Grade 2 within 7 days. * Any Grade 5 events are not due to the underlying malignancy.

  Up to 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• The recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of iC9-CAR.CSPG4

  Up to 4 weeks

• Objective response rate

  Up to 2 years

Other Outcomes (4)

• Progression Free Survival (PFS)

  Up to 2 years

• Overall Survival (OS)

  Up to 2 years

• Duration of Response (DOR)

  Up to 2 years

Study Arms (1)

Chimeric Antigen Receptors

EXPERIMENTAL

blood will be collected to prepare the iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cells. Disease-fighting T cells will be isolated and modified to prepare the iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cells. In part 2, the iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cells are given by infusion after completion of lymphodepletion chemotherapy.

Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Drug: Fludarabine; Biological: Cell Therapy

Interventions

Cyclophosphamide DRUG

cyclophosphamide 300 mg/meter square IV

Also known as: Cycloblastin, Cytoxan, Endoxan, Neosar, Procytox, Revimmune

Chimeric Antigen Receptors

Fludarabine DRUG

fludarabine 30 mg/meter square IV × 3 days

Also known as: Fludara, Fludarabine Phosphate

Chimeric Antigen Receptors

Cell Therapy BIOLOGICAL

the autologous T lymphocyte chimeric antigen receptor cells against the CSPG4 antigen iC9-CAR.CSPG4 T cell infusion iC9-CAR.CSPG4 T cell infusion

Chimeric Antigen Receptors

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Unless otherwise noted, subjects must meet all of the following criteria to participate in all phases of the study:
• Written informed consent and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information explained to, understood by and signed by the subject; subject given a copy of the informed consent form.
• Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent.
• Karnofsky score of \> 60%
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck as defined by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). This includes squamous cancer of: oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx.

You may not qualify if:

• Subject with a history or current severe progressive heart disease (congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, uncontrolled arrhythmia, or myocardial infarction in the past 6 months.
• Subject with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 12 months before procurement.
• Subject with a history of severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction to cyclophosphamide or fludarabine.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center: lead
• Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: collaborator
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

RECRUITING

Related Links

• University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Clinical Trials

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Head and Neck Neoplasms; Recurrence; Neoplasms

Interventions

Cyclophosphamide; fludarabine; fludarabine phosphate; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Phosphoramide Mustards; Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; Mustard Compounds; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; Hydrocarbons; Organic Chemicals; Phosphoramides; Organophosphorus Compounds; Biological Therapy; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Jared Weiss, MD

  UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Catherine Cheng

CONTACT

+1 919-445-4208; UNCImmunotherapy@med.unc.edu

Spencer SB Laing

CONTACT

+1 919-445-4175; UNCImmunotherapy@med.unc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2023
• First Posted: October 23, 2023
• Study Start: April 5, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2028
• Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

US (1)