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CAR T-cell Therapy

Cell Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Head and Neck Cancer

Phase 1 & 2
Recruiting
Led By Jared Weiss, MD
Research Sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
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.
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 2 years
Awards & highlights

Study Summary

This trial is testing a new treatment to see if it is safe and tolerable for patients with head and neck cancer that came back after standard therapy. Blood will be taken to make the treatment, which will then be infused and studied for side effects.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults over 18 with recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, who have a Karnofsky score above 60%, indicating they can care for themselves. It's not open to those with severe heart disease, recent stroke or TIA, or allergies to cyclophosphamide or fludarabine.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The study tests autologous CAR-T cells targeting CSPG4 in patients whose head and neck cancer returned after standard treatment. The safety and tolerable dose levels are being determined. Patients will undergo lymphodepletion chemotherapy before receiving the experimental iC9.CAR-CSPG4 T cell infusion.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects include reactions related to immune system activation by CAR-T cells such as fever, fatigue, blood pressure changes, and breathing difficulties; plus typical chemotherapy side effects like nausea, hair loss, mouth sores, and increased infection risk.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am mostly able to care for myself.
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My cancer is a type of squamous cell carcinoma in the head or neck area.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 2 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 2 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Dose Limiting Toxicity
Toxicity: Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)
Toxicity: Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS)
+1 more
Secondary outcome measures
Objective response rate
The recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of iC9-CAR.CSPG4
Other outcome measures
Duration of Response (DOR)
Feasibility of iC9-CAR.CSPG4 T cell therapy
Overall Survival (OS)
+1 more

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Chimeric Antigen ReceptorsExperimental Treatment3 Interventions
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.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Cell Therapy
2016
Completed Phase 3
~180
Cyclophosphamide
1995
Completed Phase 3
~3770
Fludarabine
2012
Completed Phase 3
~1080

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterLead Sponsor
351 Previous Clinical Trials
88,300 Total Patients Enrolled
University Cancer Research Fund at Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUNKNOWN
3 Previous Clinical Trials
95 Total Patients Enrolled
Bellicum PharmaceuticalsIndustry Sponsor
27 Previous Clinical Trials
1,319 Total Patients Enrolled

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Are there any vacancies available in this research project?

"According to clinicaltrials.gov, this trial is not currently enrolling participants. It was posted on December 1st 2023 and had its last update on October 18th of the same year. Despite that, there are 552 other studies seeking patients right now."

Answered by AI
~22 spots leftby Aug 2026