Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is pioneering new cancer immunotherapy approaches through ongoing clinical trials, offering hope for patients with relapsed or refractory leukemias and gliomas. These trials explore novel CAR T-cell therapies designed to improve outcomes and address unmet needs in pediatric oncology.
Dual-Target CAR T-Cell Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
One notable trial utilizes CAR T-cells to simultaneously target CD19 and CD22, two distinct proteins on the surface of leukemia cells. This dual-targeting strategy aims to prevent cancer cells from evading the immune system by altering the expression of a single target. The trial is currently enrolling patients with recurrent or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and Stanford is the only children’s hospital in California offering this specific approach.
CD22-Targeted CAR T-Cell Therapy
In another Stanford-exclusive trial, researchers are evaluating the efficacy of CAR T-cells that target CD22 alone. CD22 is a protein found on the surface of certain leukemia and lymphoma cells. This trial seeks to determine if CD22-directed CAR T-cells can effectively treat children and young adults with these hematologic malignancies.
GD2-Targeted CAR T-Cell Therapy for Gliomas
Stanford is also conducting a trial to assess the safety and efficacy of GD2-targeted CAR T-cells in patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and spinal diffuse midline glioma (DMG). GD2 is a disialoganglioside highly expressed on these aggressive brain and spine tumors. This trial represents a significant effort to develop new treatment options for these difficult-to-treat pediatric cancers. The trial is available only at Stanford.
These clinical trials build upon the success of FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapies like KYMRIAH, which is available at Stanford for patients up to 26 years of age with relapsed or refractory ALL. Stanford was involved in the early clinical trials of KYMRIAH and has extensive experience in managing CAR T-cell therapy, including addressing potential side effects and providing long-term follow-up care.
