HER2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells in Combination With Checkpoint Blockade in Patients With Advanced Sarcoma

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to learn whether it is safe to give HER2-CAR T cells in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor drug (pembrolizumab or nivolumab), to learn what the side effects are, and to see whether this therapy might help patients with sarcoma. Another goal of this study is to study the bacteria found in the stool of patients with sarcoma who are being treated with HER2 CAR T cells and immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs to see if the types of bacteria influence how well the treatment works. The investigators have found from previous research that they can put a new gene into T cells that will make them recognize cancer cells and kill them. They now want to see if they can put a new gene in these cells that will let the T cells recognize and kill sarcoma cells. The new gene that the investigators will put in makes an antibody specific for HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) that binds to sarcoma cells. In addition, it contains CD28, which stimulated T cells and make them last longer. After this new gene is put into the T cell, the T cell becomes known as a chimeric antigen receptor T cell or CAR T cell. In another clinical study using these CAR T cells targeting HER2 as well as other studies using CAR T cells, investigators found that giving chemotherapy before the T cell infusion can improve the effect the T cells can have. Giving chemotherapy before a T cell infusion is called lymphodepletion since the chemotherapy is specifically chosen to decrease the number of lymphocytes in the body. Decreasing the number of the patient's lymphocytes first should allow the infused T cells to expand in the body, and potentially kill cancer cells more effectively. The chemotherapy used for lymphodepletion is a combination of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. After the patient receives the lymphodepletion chemotherapy and CAR T cells during treatment on the study, they will receive an antibody drug called an immune checkpoint inhibitor, pem

Primary Outcome

Any grade 5 event, Grade 3 and 4 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or neurological toxicities that fail to return to grade 2 within 5 days of T cell infusion , and all other grade 3 or 4 toxicities (including allergic reactions to T cell infusions) that fail to return to grade 2 within 72 hours. In the event that the combination treatment potentiates expected, severe toxicities attributable to PD-1 antibody, investigators will employ an additional stopping rule which will be applied to each arm s

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• DRUG Nivolumab Injectable Product
• GENETIC T cells or CAR T cells
• DRUG Pembrolizumab Injectable Product

Study Locations (1)