Immune cells engineered to hunt brain tumors in spinal fluid show promise in early trial

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participant has verified leptomeningeal metastases * Participant must have a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) \>= 60 * Participant must have a life expectancy of \>= 8 weeks * If participant has a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, the valve must be programmable, and must be able to tolerate their shunts being turned off for 48 hours * The effects of IL13Ralpha2-CAR T cells on a developing fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential must have negative serum pregnancy test and agree to use a reliable form of birth control prior to study entry and for at least two months following study treatment. Male research participants must agree to use a reliable form of birth control and not donate sperm during the study and for at least two months following study treatment * Participant has a histologically confirmed IL13Ralpha2+ tumor expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) at the initial tumor presentation or recurrent disease (H-score \>= 50) * Participant must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent * No known contraindications to leukapheresis, steroids, or tocilizumab Exclusion Criteria: * Research participant requires supplemental oxygen to keep saturation greater than 95% and the situation is not expected to resolve within 2 weeks * Research participant requires dialysis * Research participant has uncontrolled seizure activity and/or clinically evident progressive encephalopathy * Failure of research participant to understand the basic elements of the protocol and/or the risks/benefits of participating in this phase 1 study. A legal guardian may substitute for the research participant * Participant is unwilling to stop treatment with chemotherapy or endocrine therapy and/or radiation one week prior and during the first 4 cycles of the IL13Ralpha2-CAR T cell study * Shunted participants either have a non-programmable shunt valve, or cannot tolerate their shunts being turned off for 48 hours * Participant has a coagulopathy or bleeding disorder or cannot safely discontinue anticoagulation prior to placement of a Rickham reservoir * Participant has a chronic or active viral infection of the central nervous system (CNS) * Participant has any uncontrolled illness, including ongoing or active infection; participant has known active hepatitis B or C infection; participants with any signs or symptoms of active infection, positive blood cultures or radiological evidence of infections * Participant is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive based on testing performed within 4 weeks of signing the main informed consent * Participant has an autoimmune disease * Participant has another active malignancy * Participant is unable to undergo a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) * Participant is pregnant or breast feeding. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with IL13Ralpha2-CAR T cells, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother wants to participate in this study * Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the Investigator, may not be able to comply with all study procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics)