Loc3CAR: Locoregional Delivery of B7-H3-CAR T Cells for Pediatric Patients With Primary CNS Tumors

Phase 1

Recruiting

• Conditions: Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor; Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27M-Mutant; Medulloblastoma; Glioblastoma; Ependymoma; High Grade Glioma
• Interventions: Drug: B7-H3-CAR T cells

• Registration Number: NCT05835687
• Lead Sponsor: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Brief Summary

Loc3CAR is a Phase I clinical trial evaluating the use of autologous B7-H3-CAR T cells for participants ≤ 21 years old with primary CNS neoplasms. B7-H3-CAR T cells will be locoregionally administered via a CNS reservoir catheter. Study participants will be divided into two cohorts: cohort A with B7-H3-positive relapsed/refractory non-brainstem primary CNS tumors, and cohort B with brainstem high-grade neoplasms. Participants will receive six (6) B7-H3-CAR T cell infusions over an 8 week period. The purpose of this study is to find the maximum (highest) dose of B7-H3-CAR T cells that are safe to give patients with primary brain tumors.

Detailed Description

Treatment on this study includes six (6) B7-H3-CAR T cell infusions over an 8 week period. B7-H3-CAR T cells will be locoregionally administered via a CNS reservoir catheter without lymphodepleting chemotherapy. The study will evaluate the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of B7-H3-CAR T cells using a 3+3 study design and an 8 week evaluation period. The total study duration will be 1 year, at which point patients will enroll on our existing institutional long-term follow up protocol.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-03-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-04-18
• Study Start: 2023-04-27
• Study First Posted: 2023-04-28
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-07
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-08
• Primary Completion: 2028-03
• Study Completion: 2028-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 36

Inclusion Criteria

Screening Eligibility

1. Age ≤ 21 years of age

2. Primary CNS tumor with measurable disease

3. For Cohort A, must have evidence of relapsed or refractory non-brainstem CNS tumor

4. For Cohort B, must meet one of the following criteria:

   • Adequate tumor tissue from primary tumor resection or biopsy for central pathology review
   • Has presumptive/suspected brainstem high-grade neoplasm with available imaging for central imaging review

5. Life expectancy of > 12 weeks

6. Adult patient, parent or legal guardian can understand and is willing to sign a written informed consent document according to institutional guidelines

Exclusion Criteria

Screening Eligibility All Participants

1. Clinically significant medical disorders (e.g. serious infections or significant cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, psychiatric, or other organ dysfunction) that could compromise their ability to tolerate protocol therapy or would interfere with study procedure

Inclusion Criteria: Procurement and T-cell Production Eligibility

1. Age ≤ 21 years of age

2. Primary CNS tumor with measurable disease and meets criteria for either Cohort A or B:

   • Cohort A: relapsed/refractory non-brainstem CNS primary tumor AND tumor is B7-H3 positive

   • Cohort B: brainstem high-grade neoplasm AND tumor is:

     • B7-H3 positive
     • OR H3K27-altered diffuse midline glioma
     • OR radiographically-confirmed classic/typical DIPG

3. Estimated life expectancy of >12 weeks

4. Karnofsky or Lansky performance score ≥50

5. Participant of childbearing/child-fathering potential agrees to use contraception

6. For females of childbearing age:

   • Not pregnant with negative serum pregnancy test
   • Not lactating with intent to breastfeed

7. Chemotherapy/biologic therapy must be discontinued ≥ 7 days prior to enrollment

8. The last dose of antibody therapy (including check point inhibitor) must be at least 3 half-lives or 30 days, whichever is shorter

9. At least 30 days from most recent cell infusion prior to enrollment.

10. All systemically administered corticosteroid therapy must be stable or decreasing for ≥1 week prior to enrollment, with a maximum dexamethasone dose of 2.8 mg/m2/day

11. Meets eligibility for apheresis, or has an apheresis product previously collected at a FACT-accredited program

12. Adult patient, parent or legal guardian can understand and is willing to sign a written informed consent document according to institutional guidelines

Exclusion Criteria: Procurement and T-cell Production Eligibility

1. Participant has a non-programmable ventricular shunt that could compromise study therapy
2. Known primary immunodeficiency or acquired immunodeficiency.
3. Known HIV positivity
4. Severe intercurrent bacterial, viral or fungal infection (e.g. active hepatitis B or C infection or adenovirus infection).
5. Rapidly progressive disease
6. Known underlying medical condition for which participation in this trial would not be in the best interest of the participant or that could prevent, limit or confound protocol assessments.
7. Adult patient, Parent, or legal guardian is unwilling or unable to provide consent for participation in a 15 year long-term follow up study.

Inclusion Criteria: Treatment Eligibility

Cohort A

• Relapsed/refractory non-brainstem CNS primary tumor
• Tumor must be considered B7-H3 positive

Cohort B

• Brainstem high-grade neoplasm. Must meet one of the following criteria

  • Tumor is considered B7-H3 positive
  • H3K27-altered diffuse midline glioma
  • Radiographically-confirmed classic/typical DIPG

• Must complete standard radiation prior to Loc3CAR treatment and be a minimum of 6 weeks post-completion of radiation therapy

All participants

1. Age ≤ 21 years old

2. Primary CNS tumor with measurable disease

3. Available autologous T-cell product that has met GMP release criteria

4. Participant has a CNS reservoir catheter (e.g., Ommaya)

5. Participant is ≥ 5 days from CNS surgery, including catheter placement

6. The following treatments must be discontinued for the specified duration prior to treatment enrollment:

   • Radiation therapy: ≥ 6 weeks
   • Bevacizumab: ≥ 28 days
   • Cytotoxic chemotherapy: ≥ 21 days
   • Biologic agents: ≥ 7 days
   • Antibody therapy: ≥ 3 half-lives or 30 days (whichever is shorter)
   • Cellular therapy: ≥ 30 days
   • Investigational agent: ≥ 3 half-lives or 30 days (whichever is shorter)
   • Corticosteroids: All systemically administered therapy must be stable or decreasing for ≥ 1 week prior to enrollment, with a maximum dexamethasone dose of 2.8 mg/m^2/day. Corticosteroid physiologic replacement therapy for management of pituitary/adrenal axis insufficiency and/or topical administration (e.g. inhaled or dermatologic) is allowed.

7. Estimated life expectancy of >8 weeks

8. Karnofsky or Lansky performance score ≥ 50

9. Echocardiogram with a left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%

10. Adequate renal function defined as calculated creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥ 50 mL/min/1.73m^2.

11. Adequate pulmonary function defined as forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥50% of predicted value or pulse oximetry ≥90% on room air.

12. Total Bilirubin ≤3 times the upper limit of normal for age.

13. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤5 times the upper limit of normal for age.

14. Hemoglobin >8.0 g/dL (can be transfused).

15. Platelet count >50,000/mm^3 (can be transfused).

16. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1000/uL.

17. Taking anti-seizure medication, or agrees to initiate anti-seizure medication prior to starting study therapy.

18. Has recovered from all NCI CTAE grade III-IV, non-hematologic acute toxicities from prior therapy.

19. Male participants of child-fathering potential agree to use contraception

20. Female participants of childbearing potential:

    • Negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to infusion
    • Not lactating with intent to breastfeed
    • If sexually active, agrees to use birth control until 3 months after T-cell infusion. Male partners should use a condom

21. Adult patient, parent or legal guardian can understand and is willing to sign a written informed consent document according to institutional guidelines

Exclusion Criteria: Treatment Eligibility-All Participants

1. Participant has a non-programmable ventricular shunt that could compromise study therapy
2. Known primary immunodeficiency or acquired immunodeficiency.
3. Known HIV positivity
4. Severe intercurrent bacterial, viral or fungal infection
5. Myocardial infarction, unstable angina, New York Heart Association class III and IV congestive heart failure, myocarditis, or ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication within 6 months prior to study entry
6. Receiving therapy as outlined above during the 'wash-out' period
7. Rapidly progressing disease
8. Received any live vaccines within 30 days
9. Known underlying medical condition for which participation in this trial would not be in the best interest of the participant or that could prevent, limit or confound protocol assessments
10. Adult patient, Parent, or legal guardian is unwilling or unable to provide consent for participation in a 15 year long-term follow up study

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Arm A (relapsed/refractory CNS tumors)	B7-H3-CAR T cells	Patients with B7-H3-positive relapsed/refractory non-brainstem primary CNS tumors.
Arm B (diffuse midline gliomas [DMG])	B7-H3-CAR T cells	Patients with DMG.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Maximum tolerated dose (MTD)	Four (4) weeks after the first B7-H3-CAR T-cell infusion or 7 days after the fourth B7-H3-CAR T cell infusion, whichever is longer	To determine the maximum tolerated dose for the locoregional delivery of autologous B7-H3-CAR T cells in patients with recurrent/refractory B7-H3- positive primary CNS tumors (Cohort A) or diffuse midline glioma (DMG) (Cohort B).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Radiographic response	Four (4) weeks post B7-H3-CAR T-cell infusion	To assess the efficacy, defined as sustained objective response, partial response (PR) or complete response (CR), observed anytime on active treatment with B7-H3-CAR T cells in patients with relapsed/refractory B7-H3+ primary CNS tumors (Cohort A) or DMG (Cohort B).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; 🇺🇸 Memphis, Tennessee, United States