Tailor-Made T-Cells take on childhood brain cancer
NCT ID NCT06193759
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-stage trial tests whether personalized immune cells (T-cells) can safely treat young children with aggressive brain tumors. The T-cells are designed to attack unique markers found on each child's tumor. Up to 12 children under 5 with embryonal brain tumors or recurrent ependymoma will receive the cells after standard treatment. The main goal is to check safety and find the right dose.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- personalized T-cells (TSA-T) targeting tumor-specific antigens
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for young children with hard-to-treat brain tumors, potentially reducing relapse risk.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase 1 safety trial with only 12 participants. The personalized approach is complex and may not work for everyone; side effects from the T-cells are possible.
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
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 12 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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 30 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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.
RECIPIENT SCREENING INCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Diagnosis (select one group): * Group A: New diagnosis of CNS embryonal tumors: medulloblastoma, embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes, pineoblastoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, and embryonal tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS). * Group B: Radiographic evidence consistent with recurrent ependymoma, with planned or recent re-resection. 2. Age: * Group A: \<5 years of age at enrollment * Group B: \>1 year and \<30 years of age at enrollment 3. Tissue: o Group A: Availability of sufficient fresh or frozen tumor tissue (approximately 50 mg). o Group B: Expectation of sufficient fresh or frozen tumor tissue, in the opinion of study PI or sub-I (based upon radiographic evidence of disease). 4. Non-pregnant: * Group A: N/A * Group B: For female of childbearing potential, must have negative pregnancy test. Common to both groups: 5. Karnofsky or Lansky score of ≥60%. 6. Adequate organ function, defined below: i. ANC ≥750/µL. ii. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) \>500/μL. iii. Platelets ≥75K. iv. Bilirubin ≤3xULN. v. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<5x upper limit of normal (ULN). vi. Serum creatinine ≤1.0 mg/dL or 1.5x ULN for age (whichever is higher). vii. Pulse oximetry \>90% on room air. 7. The patient (if ≥18 years old), or the patient's parent(s)/legal guardian(s) (if the patient is a minor), is capable of providing informed consent. 8. Patient deemed to be of sufficient size to undergo MNC apheresis for TSA-T generation (Groups A and B) and PBSC rescue (Group A only). 9. Patient is a surgical candidate for placement of a Rickham reservoir in the opinion of study PI or medically licensed sub-I. RECIPIENT INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PROCUREMENT 1\. Karnofsky or Lansky score of ≥60%. 2. Adequate organ function, defined below: i. ANC ≥750/µL. ii. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) \>500/μL. iii. Platelets ≥75K. iv. Bilirubin ≤3xULN. v. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<5x upper limit of normal (ULN). vi. Serum creatinine ≤1.0mg/dL or 1.5x ULN for age (whichever is higher). vii. Pulse oximetry \>90% on room air. 3. Non-pregnant: * Group A: N/A * Group B: For female of childbearing potential (if applicable), must have negative pregnancy test. RECIPIENT INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR INITIAL TSA-T ADMINISTRATION AND FOR ADDITIONAL INFUSIONS 1. Applicable to TSA-T infusion #1 only: Group B participants must have histopathologic confirmation of recurrent ependymoma. 2. Karnofsky or Lansky score of ≥60%. 3. Adequate organ function, defined as below: i. Bilirubin ≤3x ULN. ii. AST and ALT ≤5x ULN. iii. Serum creatinine ≤1.0mg/dL or 1.5x ULN for age (whichever is higher). iv. Pulse oximetry \>90% on room air. 4. Applicable to TSA-T Infusion #1 only: Adequate count recovery, as described below, from prior therapies: i. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) \>1000/μL ii. Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) \>500/μL 5. Patients must have received their last dose of: a. Myelosuppressive chemotherapy (if applicable) ≥14 days prior to TSA-T infusion b. Focal radiation (if applicable) ≥14 days prior to TSA-T infusion c. Craniospinal irradiation (if applicable) ≥28 days prior to TSA-T infusion 6. Patients must have recovered from all acute effects of prior surgical intervention/s. 7. Group B female of childbearing potential or male capable of fathering a child (if applicable): Agree to use contraceptive measures during TSA-T treatment participation through 6 months following last administration of TSA-Ts 8. Group B female of childbearing potential (if applicable), must have negative pregnancy test. 9. Neurologic status: Patient must have a stable neurologic exam for 2 weeks, on a stable or decreasing dose of steroids, prior to administration of the first dose of TSA-T cells, and stability for 1 week prior to all subsequent infusions. The exams demonstrating stability must be performed by the study team, although these may occur via telemedicine if necessary. Patient must agree to a brief (\<72 hours) course of steroids if the PI or medically-licensed sub-I deems it clinically necessary in the context of clinical deterioration. 10. Presence of a Rickham reservoir and catheter for intracerebroventricular administration of TSA-T therapy, placed \>7 days prior to TSA-T infusion. 11. For patients with programmable VP shunts: Able to tolerate the shunt being closed for at least 4 hours, in the opinion of study PI or medically licensed sub-I. EXCLUSION CRITERIA RECIPIENT SCREENING EXCLUSION CRITERIA 1\. Patients with uncontrolled infections. 2. Patients with known HIV infection. 3. Group A patients with medulloblastoma of the SHH subtype. RECIPIENT EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PROCUREMENT 1\. Patients with a fever above 38.0°C. 2. Patients with known HIV infection. 3. Prior immunotherapy with an investigational agent within the 28 days prior to planned date of procurement collection for TSA-T manufacturing. 4\. Patients who will be unable to tolerate the apheresis procedure, including inability to tolerate placement of apheresis line (if applicable), in the opinion of PI or medically licensed sub-I. 5\. Patients who have overly bulky tumors on imaging are ineligible. These include the following: i. Tumor with any evidence of herniation or significant midline shift. ii. Tumor with a significant brainstem component. iii. Patients who are deemed to have overly bulky tumor by the PI of the study. If, due to complications during apheresis or subsequent manufacturing, procurement is repeated at a later date using peripheral whole blood collection, exclusion criterion #4 does not apply. RECIPIENT EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT TSA-T INFUSIONS 1. Patients with progressive disease based on most recent evaluation (for subsequent infusions). a. Patients with progressive disease based on most recent evaluation may receive initial TSA-T infusion but would be ineligible if the tumor is found to be progressive before subsequent infusions 2. Patients with uncontrolled infections. 3. Patients who have overly bulky tumors on imaging are ineligible. These include the following: i. Tumor with any evidence of herniation or significant midline shift. ii. Tumor with a significant brainstem component. iii. Patients who are deemed to have overly bulky tumor by the PI of the study. 4. Patients who received ATG, Campath or other immunosuppressive T cell monoclonal antibodies within 28 days of TSA-T infusion. 5. Patients receiving steroids (e.g., dexamethasone) at a dose of \>0.05 mg/kg/day. 6. Patients who have non-programmable VP shunts.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Children's National Hospital
RECRUITINGWashington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010, United States
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