Engineered immune cells take on pancreatic cancer in early trial
NCT ID NCT03323944
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase study tested a treatment called huCART-meso cells, which are a patient's own immune cells modified to recognize and attack pancreatic cancer cells. The trial included 54 people with advanced pancreatic cancer that could not be removed by surgery. The main goal was to check safety and see if the approach is feasible, with some participants receiving the cells through an IV and others directly into the abdomen or liver.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- huCART-meso cells (a type of immune cell therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for pancreatic cancer using the body's own immune cells.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small Phase 1 trial focused on safety, not effectiveness. The study was terminated, so results may be limited. Side effects from CAR T cells can be severe.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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