Her2 and TGFBeta Cytotoxic T Cells in Treatment of Her2 Positive Malignancy



Status:Completed
Conditions:Lung Cancer, Cancer
Therapuetic Areas:Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:3 - Any
Updated:9/20/2018
Start Date:May 2009
End Date:January 21, 2018

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Administration of Her2 Chimeric Receptor and TGFbeta Dominant Negative Receptor (DNR) Expressing EBV Specific Lymphocytes for Subjects With Advanced Her2 Positive Malignancy (HERCREEM)

Patients have advanced stage cancer. This study is a gene transfer research study using
special immune cells.

The body has different ways of fighting infection and disease. No single way seems perfect
for fighting cancers. This research study combines two different ways of fighting cancer:
antibodies and T cells. Investigators hope that both will work better together. Antibodies
are proteins that protect the body from diseases caused from infectious diseases and possibly
cancer. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that
can kill other cells, including tumor cells or cells that are infected with germs. Both
antibodies and T cells have been used to treat patients with cancers: they both have shown
promise, but have not been strong enough to cure most patients.

T lymphocytes can kill tumor cells but there are normally not enough of them or they are not
able to kill all the tumor cells. We have done research in which we have grown "extra" T
lymphocytes. We have added genes to those T lymphocytes to help them to recognize tumor
cells. Although the results have been promising, we are still doing more research in this
area.

Antibodies usually circulate in blood and are secreted by other cells of the immune system in
response to the presence of germs or abnormal cells in the body. The antibody used in this
study is called anti-HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2). This antibody sticks to
HER2-positive cancer cells because of a substance on the outside of these cells called HER2.

The patient will give blood to grow T cells on either one to two separate occasions. Then,
the EBV-specific T cells will be made. These cells will be grown and frozen. To get the HER2
antibody (and the CD28) and the DNR to attach to the surface of the EBV-T cells, the antibody
gene and the DNR gene will be inserted into the EBV-T cell. This is done with two viruses
called retroviruses that have been made for this study. One will carry the antibody gene into
the T cell and the other the DNR gene.

When the patient is enrolled on the study, they will be assigned to a dose of HER2-DNR EBV-T
cells. The subject will be given one dose of cells into the vein through an IV line. The
injection will take between 1 and 10 minutes. The patient will be followed in the clinic
after the injection for 1 to 4 hours. The treatment will be given by the Center for Cell and
Gene Therapy at Texas Children's Hospital or Houston Methodist Hospital.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

The patient must meet the following eligibility inclusion criteria at the time of
PROCUREMENT:

1. Diagnosis of advanced stage* or metastatic HER2-positive cancer (Immunohistochemistry
or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is used to determine HER2
positivity)

Definitions of Malignancies and Advanced Stages:

Breast ≥Stage IIIb Colon cancer ≥Stage IIIb Esophageal cancer ≥Stage IIIb Gastric
carcinoma ≥Stage IIIb Head and Neck cancer Stage IV Lung cancer ≥Stage IIIb Pancreatic
cancer Stage IV Prostate cancer Stage IV

*it is expected that the majority of patients who will be accrued on the protocol will
have one of the HER2-positive malignancies listed in the table. If the patient's
malignancy is not listed we will use ≥ Stage IIIb as the definition of advanced stage
disease. If Stage IIIb is not part of the staging system for the individual tumor,
Stage IV will be used.

For World Health Organization grade III and IV brain tumors):patients will be
eligible, who have recurrent or progressive disease after front line therapy.

2. Karnofsky/Lansky score of 50 or more

3. EBV seropositive

4. Greater than or equal to 3 years old

5. Informed consent explained to, understood by and signed by patient/guardian.
Patient/guardian given copy of informed consent.

The patient must meet the following eligibility criteria to be included for TREATMENT:

1. Diagnosis of advanced stage* or metastatic HER2-positive cancer with disease
progressed after receiving at least one prior systemic therapy. (Immunohistochemistry
or RT-PCR is used to determine HER2 positivity) *for definition refer to Table above.

2. Greater than or equal to 3 years old.

3. EBV-seropositive

4. Recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy at least a week
before entering this study.

5. Normal echocardiogram (Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has to be with in
normal, institutional limits)

5. Life expectancy 6 weeks or more

7. Karnofsky/Lansky score of 50 or more

8. Bilirubin 3x or less, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 5x or less, Serum creatinine 2x
or less upper limit of normal, Hgb 9.0 g/dl or more, white blood cells greater than
2,000/ul, absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/ul, Platelets greater than
100,000/ul

9. Pulse oximetry 90% or more on room air

10. Sexually active patients must be willing to utilize one of the more effective birth
control methods for 6 months after the CTL infusion. Male partner should use a condom.
Acceptable forms of birth control include: * oral contraceptives ("the pill"), *
intrauterine devices (IUDs), * contraceptive implants under the skin, or contraceptive
injections, * condoms with foam.

11. Available autologous transduced EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes with 15% or more
expression of HER2 CAR determined by flow-cytometry and killing of Her2-positive targets
20% or more in cytotoxicity assay.

12. Informed consent explained to, understood by and signed by patient/guardian.
Patient/guardian given copy of informed consent

Note: Patients must also not receive antineoplastic drugs while on this study since they
would kill the infused T cells.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

At time of Procurement:

1. Known HIV positivity

At time of Treatment:

1. Severe intercurrent infection

2. Known HIV positivity

3. Pregnant or lactating

4. History of hypersensitivity reactions to murine protein-containing products
We found this trial at
2
sites
6550 Fannin St
Houston, Texas 77030
(713) 790-3311
Houston Methodist Hospital Houston Methodist is comprised of a leading academic medical center in the...
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6621 Fannin St
Houston, Texas 77030
(832) 824-1000
Texas Children's Hospital Texas Children's Hospital, located in Houston, Texas, is a not-for-profit organization whose...
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Houston, TX
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