Engineered immune cells take on childhood cancer

NCT ID NCT03294954

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This early-stage trial tests a new approach for children with neuroblastoma that has come back or not responded to standard treatment. Researchers take the child's own natural killer T cells, add genes to help them recognize and attack neuroblastoma cells, and give them back along with a drug called Etanercept. The goal is to find a safe dose and see if the cells can shrink tumors.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: GINAKIT cells (genetically modified natural killer T cells) with or without Etanercept
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for children with hard-to-treat neuroblastoma by using the body's own immune cells to attack the cancer.
What could go wrong: This is an early Phase 1 trial with only 70 participants, so it is too soon to know if it works. The modified cells may cause side effects or not shrink tumors, and combining them with Etanercept adds unknown risks.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

neuroblastoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

NEUROBLASTOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Texas Children's Hospital
RECRUITING

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.