Engineered immune cells take on childhood cancer in new trial

NCT ID NCT06803875

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests a new treatment called hALK.CAR T cells for children and young adults with high-risk neuroblastoma that has returned or not responded to standard treatments. The therapy involves taking a patient's own immune cells, engineering them to recognize and attack cancer cells that have a protein called ALK, and giving them back. The study has two phases: first, finding the safest dose, and second, seeing how well it works in 42 participants.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

hALK.CAR T cells (a type of immune cell therapy that targets a protein called ALK on cancer cells)

What this could lead to

If this works, it could offer a new treatment option for children with hard-to-treat neuroblastoma that has come back or not responded to standard therapy.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase trial (phase 1/2) with only 42 participants, so it is too soon to know if it will be effective. There are also risks of side effects from the cell therapy, such as cytokine release syndrome.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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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.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Boston Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact