Engineered immune cells take on liver cancer in early trial

NCT ID NCT03132792

First seen Jun 23, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026

Summary

This early-phase trial tested a new approach for advanced liver cancer that has not responded to standard treatments. Researchers took participants' own immune cells, modified them in a lab to target a protein called AFP found on cancer cells, and infused them back after a short course of chemotherapy. The main goals were to check safety and find the right dose, with 39 adults enrolled.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

    Glasgow, United Kingdom

  • Centre Eugène Marquis

    Rennes, France

  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre

    Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States

  • Guy's Hospital

    London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom

  • Institute Gustave Roussy

    Villejuif, France

  • MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • Mayo Clinic Arizona

    Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States

  • Mayo Clinic Clinical Trial Referral Office

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • NIHR UCLH Clinical Research

    London, W1T7HA, United Kingdom

  • Paoli Calmettes Institute

    Marseille, France

  • SCCA Immunotherapy Trials Intake

    Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States

  • The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

    Manchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom

  • UCLA

    Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

  • USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

  • University Hospital of Barcelona

    Barcelona, 08036, Spain

  • University Hospital of Navarra

    Pamplona, 31008, Spain

  • University of Maryland, Greenebaum Cancer Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

  • University of Miami

    Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

  • Washington University - School of Medicine

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

  • Winship Cancer Institute - Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

genetically modified T cells (AFPᶜ³³²T cells)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for advanced liver cancer that has not responded to other therapies.

What could go wrong

This is an early phase 1 trial with only 39 participants, so safety and effectiveness are not yet proven. There are risks of serious side effects from the chemotherapy and the modified T cells.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Liver Neoplasms Neoplasm Metastasis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.