Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 Dual-Target CAR-T Therapy in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Pancreatic Cancer; Pancreatic Carcinoma; Pancreatic Cancer Non-resectable; Pancreatic Cancer Stage IV
• Interventions: Biological: Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 CAR-T cells

• Registration Number: NCT07066995
• Lead Sponsor: Essen Biotech

Brief Summary

Autologous T-cells engineered to express CARs targeting Mesothelin and Claudin18.2, for Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, PDAC), administered as two separate sequential infusions following lymphodepleting chemotherapy

Detailed Description

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, with a poor prognosis in advanced stages. Mesothelin (MSLN) and Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) are tumor-associated antigens overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Both are promising immunotherapy targets, as they are prevalent in pancreatic tumors while largely restricted in normal tissues. CAR-T cell therapies directed at these antigens have shown early evidence of safety and anti-tumor activity. For example, mesothelin-specific CAR T cells have achieved stable disease and metabolic tumor regression in initial trials without dose-limiting toxicity. Similarly, CLDN18.2-specific CAR-T cells yielded objective remissions (including complete remission) in refractory pancreatic cancer, albeit with some gastric mucosal toxicity due to low-level target expression in normal stomach. Targeting two antigens may improve tumor control by addressing antigen heterogeneity and reducing immune escape. This trial evaluates a dual-target CAR-T strategy, in which two separate CAR-T products (one for mesothelin, one for claudin18.2) are given sequentially.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2025-04-29
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Study First Submitted: 2025-07-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-04
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-15
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-15
• Primary Completion: 2027-12-10
• Study Completion: 2028-12-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Expected survival time ≥3 months;
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma that is advanced (unresectable or metastatic). Patients should have received, or be intolerant of, standard first-line therapy (e.g., gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, FOLFIRINOX) for advanced disease. A short course of current first-line therapy is allowed for the purpose of bridging to manufacturing, but evidence of disease progression on or after at least one line is required prior to infusion (for the dose-expansion phase, patients must have progressed on ≥1 prior systemic regimen).
• ECOG Performance Status: 0 or 1 (fully active or restricted in strenuous activity but ambulatory).
• Liver and kidney function, cardiopulmonary function meet the following requirements:
• Creatinine ≤1.5×ULN; (2) Electrocardiogram showed no clinically significant abnormal bands;
• Blood oxygen saturation >91% in non-oxygen state;
• Total bilirubin ≤2×ULN; ALT and AST≤2.5 x ULN; ALT and AST abnormalities due to disease, such as liver infiltration or bile duct obstruction, were determined to be less than 5×ULN. If Gilbert syndrome is diagnosed, the total bilirubin index can be relaxed to ≤3.0×ULN and the direct bilirubin ≤1.5×ULN.
• No serious mental disorders;
• Can understand this test and has signed the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive; Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) positive and peripheral blood hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA titer detection is not within the normal reference value range; Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Antibody positive and peripheral blood hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA positive; Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Antibody positive; Syphilis positive;
• Serious heart disease, including but not limited to unstable angina, myocardial infarction or bypass or stent surgery (within 6 months prior to screening), congestive heart failure (NYHA classification ≥III), and severe arrhythmia;
• Systemic diseases that are deemed unstable by researchers: including but not limited to severe liver, kidney, or metabolic diseases that require drug treatment;
• Active or uncontrollable infections (except mild genitourinary and upper respiratory tract infections) that require systemic treatment within 7 days prior to administration;
• Pregnant or lactating women, and female subjects who plan pregnancy within 2 years after cell transfusion or male subjects whose partners plan pregnancy within 2 years after cell transfusion;
• Patients who received CAR-T therapy or other gene-modified cell therapy before screening;
• Participated in other clinical studies 1 month before screening;
• Evidence of central nervous system invasion during subject screening;
• Mental patients with depression or suicidal thoughts;
• Situations considered unsuitable for inclusion by other researchers.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 CAR T cells, chemotherapy	Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 CAR-T cells	Patients will be administered fludarabine phosphate intravenously (IV) over a 30-minute period on days -4 to -2. Additionally, cyclophosphamide will be administered intravenously (IV) over 60 minutes on day -2. Subsequently, patients will receive Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 CAR T cells intravenously (IV) over a duration of 10-20 minutes on day 0. Patients who exhibit positive responses to the initial dose of Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 CAR T cells, do not experience unacceptable side effects, and have a sufficient quantity of cells available may be eligible to receive 2 or 3 additional doses of Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 CAR T cells.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Incidence and severity of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) following chemotherapy preparative regimen and infusion of CD19/BCMA chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells	28 days	Will be recorded and graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03 at three dose levels until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Rate of successful manufacture and expansion of the Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells	60 days	satisfy the targeted dose level and meet the required release specifications outlined in the Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

District One Hospital; 🇨🇳 Beijing, Beijing, China