Immune cells take on nerve tumors: new trial launches
NCT ID NCT04085159
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 25, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This early-stage trial is testing whether specially engineered immune cells (called CAR-T and CTL cells) and a dendritic cell vaccine can safely treat people with neurofibromatosis or schwannomatosis, conditions that cause nerve tumors. The study will enroll 100 participants aged 1 year and older whose tumors have specific markers. The main goal is to check for side effects, with a secondary focus on whether the cells can be successfully made and work against the tumors.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Antigen-specific T cells (CAR-T and CTL) and dendritic cell vaccine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new treatment option that helps control tumors in people with neurofibromatosis or schwannomatosis.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial (Phase 1/2) with a small number of participants, so safety and effectiveness are not yet proven. There may be side effects from the cell therapy, and the treatment may not work for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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100 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2026
- Finished
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Jul 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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1 year to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Written, informed consent obtained prior to any study-specific procedures. 2. Diagnosis of neurofibromatosis, or schwannomatosis 3. The results of immune staining of the patient's cancer specimens positive for any one or more of a list of tumor-associated antigens. 4. Age ≥ 1 years 5. At least one volumetrically measurable and ≥ 0.5 cc NF-related tumor (schwannoma, ependymoma, meningioma - histological confirmation not required) with radiographic evidence of progression (either as unequivocal progression on conventional MRI, or a \>10% volume increase by 3D volumetrics) over the past ≤12 months, designated as the primary target tumor OR Volumetrically measurable and ≥ 0.5 cc VS with ipsilateral progressive hearing loss over the past ≤12 months, designated as the primary target tumor. 6. Progressive Hearing Loss Criteria for Enrollment: Audiogram showing drop in pure tone average (PTA) of 10dB HL at ≥ 2 nonconsecutive or consecutive frequencies or drop in speech discrimination score (SDS) below the 95% critical difference threshold, compared to previous audiogram ≤ 1 year prior. 7. Karnofsky/Lansky performance status (PS) 50-100%. Note: Patients who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheelchair, will be considered ambulatory for the purpose of assessing the performance score. 8. Any neurologic deficits must be stable for ≥ 1 week. 9. Adequate bone marrow reserve with * absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/mm3. * Platelets ≥100,000/mm3. 10. Adequate renal and hepatic function with * Serum creatinine ≤ 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN). * Serum bilirubin ≤ 2 x ULN. * aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ALT ≤ 2 x ULN. * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5 x ULN. * Serum bilirubin 2.0 is acceptable in the setting of known Gilbert's syndrome. Exclusion Criteria: 1. The results of immune staining of the patient's tumor-associated antigens are all negative. 2. Participation in any other cell therapy protocols within one year. 3. Current or recent treatment (within the 28-day period prior to Day 0) with another investigational drug. 4. Patients who have had a major surgery or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks of start of study. 5. Pregnant or lactating females. 6. Uncontrolled brain or leptomeningeal metastases, including patients who continue to require glucocorticoids for brain or leptomeningeal metastases. 7. Patients who have any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions or other conditions that could affect their participation in the study such as: * Symptomatic congestive heart failure of New York heart Association Class III or IV * unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within 6 months of start of study drug, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia or any other clinically significant cardiac disease * severely impaired lung function as defined as spirometry and DLCO that is 50% of the normal predicted value and/or 02 saturation that is 88% or less at rest on room air * uncontrolled diabetes as defined by fasting serum glucose \>1.5 x ULN (Note: Optimal glycemic control should be achieved before starting trial therapy.) * active (acute or chronic) or uncontrolled severe infections * liver disease such as cirrhosis or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C). 8. Inadequate bone marrow function: * Absolute neutrophil count \< 1.0 x 10e9/L.• Platelet count \< 100 x 10e9/L. * Hb \< 9 g/dL. 9. Inadequate liver and renal function: * Serum (total) bilirubin \> 1.5 x ULN. * AST \& ALT \> 2.5 x ULN (\> 5 x ULN in patients with liver metastases). * Alkaline phosphatase \> 2.5 x ULN (or \> 5 x ULN in case of liver metastases or \> 10 x ULN in case of bone metastases). * Serum creatinine \>2.0 mg/dl (\> 177 μmol/L). * Urine dipstick for protein uria should be \< 2+. Patients with ≥ 2+ proteinuria on dipstick urinalysis at baseline should undergo 24 hour urine collection and must demonstrate \< 1 g of protein/24 hr. 10. Subject infected with HIV (HIV antibody positive), Treponema pallidum antibody positive or TB culture positive.
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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
-
Shenzhen Geno-immune Medical Institute
Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
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