Can trained immune cells outsmart brain tumors?
NCT ID NCT03652545
First seen Aug 14, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026
Summary
This Phase I trial tests whether infusing specially trained immune cells, called TAA-T, can safely target and attack high-risk brain tumors in children and adults. The cells are made from the patient's own blood and are designed to recognize multiple tumor-related proteins, potentially making it harder for tumors to escape. The study includes people with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) or other recurrent or hard-to-treat central nervous system cancers. The main goal is to check safety and feasibility, while also watching for any signs of tumor response over time.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tumor antigen-associated T cells (TAA-T), a type of immune cell therapy made from the patient's own blood
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a new way to treat aggressive brain tumors by boosting the body's own immune system to attack cancer cells.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial focused on safety, so it may not prove effective. There is also a risk of side effects from the cell infusion, and the therapy may not work for all tumor types.
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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
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Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Medical Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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