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Liver CancerPhase 1GAPNCT02932956

Glypican 3-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Expressed in T Cells for Patients With Pediatric Solid Tumors (GAP)

A Phase 1 study testing GAP T cells, Cytoxan and Fludara in people with Liver Cancer, run by Baylor College of Medicine at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study enrolls patients who have GPC3-positive solid tumors currently. Patients may be considered if the cancer has come back, has not gone away after standard treatment or the patient cannot receive standard treatment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 1 year to 21 years
Conditions the study is for
Liver Cancer
What is being tested?
GAP T cells, Cytoxan and Fludara
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
10 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
17 Dec 2018to Feb 2037
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 1 year to 21 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Relapsed or refractory GPC3-positive* solid tumors (currently only enrolling liver tumors)
  • Age ≥ 1 year and ≤ 21 years
  • Lansky or Karnofsky score ≥60%
  • Life expectancy ≥16 weeks
  • Child-Pugh-Turcotte score <7 (for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma only)
  • Informed consent explained to, understood by and signed by patient/guardian. Patient/guardian given copy of informed consent
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  • Age ≥ 1 year and ≤ 21 years
  • Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage A, B or C (for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma only)
  • Life expectancy of ≥ 12 weeks
  • Lansky or Karnofsky score ≥ 60%
  • Child-Pugh-Turcotte score < 7 (for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma only)
  • Adequate organ function:
  • Creatinine clearance as estimated by Cockcroft Gault or Schwartz ≥ 60 ml/min
  • serum AST< 5 times ULN
  • total bilirubin < 3 times ULN for age
  • INR ≤1.7 (for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma only)
  • absolute neutrophil count > 500/microliter
  • platelet count > 25,000/microliter (can be transfused)
  • Hgb ≥7.0 g/dl (can be transfused)
  • pulse oximetry >90% on room air
  • Recovered from acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy and investigational agents before entering this study
  • Sexually active patients must be willing to utilize one of the more effective birth control methods for 3 months after the T-cell infusion.
  • Informed consent explained to, understood by and signed by patient/guardian. Patient/guardian given copy of informed consent

Who cannot join

  • History of hypersensitivity reactions to murine protein-containing products OR presence of human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) prior to enrollment (only patients who have received prior therapy with murine antibodies)
  • History of organ transplantation
  • Known HIV positivity
  • Active bacterial, fungal or viral infection (except Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus infections)
  • Severe previous toxicity from cyclophosphamide or fludarabine
  • Treatment Eligibility
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  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Uncontrolled infection
  • Systemic steroid treatment (greater than or equal to 0.5 mg prednisone equivalent/kg/day, dose adjustment or discontinuation of medication must occur at least 24 hours prior to CAR T cell infusion)
  • Known HIV positivity
  • Active bacterial, fungal or viral infection (except Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus infections)
  • History of organ transplantation
  • History of hypersensitivity reactions to murine protein-containing products OR presence of human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) prior to enrollment (only patients who have received prior therapy with murine antibodies)
  • Severe previous toxicity from cyclophosphamide or fludarabine
  • GPC3 expression will be evaluated by standard immunohistochemistry (IHC). A tumor is considered GPC3 positive, when the staining is Grade 2 (>25% positive tumor cells) or above with an intensity score of 2 or above on a scale of 0 to 4.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Texas Children's Hospital

    Houston, Texas, 77030

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Glypican 3-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Expressed in Autologous T Cells as Immunotherapy for Patients With Pediatric Solid Tumors

This study enrolls patients who have GPC3-positive solid tumors currently. Patients may be considered if the cancer has come back, has not gone away after standard treatment or the patient cannot receive standard treatment. This research study uses special immune system cells called GAP T cells, a new experimental treatment.

The body has different ways of fighting infection and disease. No single way seems perfect for fighting cancers. This research study combines two different ways of fighting cancer: antibodies and T cells. Antibodies are types of proteins that protect the body from infectious diseases and possibly cancer. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill other cells, including cells infected with viruses and tumor cells. Both antibodies and T cells have been used to treat patients with cancers. They have shown promise, but have not been strong enough to cure most patients.

Read more

Investigators have found from previous research that they can put a new gene into T cells that will make them recognize cancer cells and kill them. In preclinical studies, the investigators made several genes called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), from an antibody called GC33 that recognizes glypican-3, a proteoglycan found on solid tumors including pediatric liver cancers (GPC3-CAR). This study will test T cells genetically engineered with a GPC3-CAR (GAP T cells) in patients with GPC3-positive solid tumors (currently only enrolling liver tumors).

The GAP T cells are an investigational product not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The purpose of this study is to find the biggest dose of GAP T cells that is safe, to see how long they last in the body, to learn what the side effects are and to see if the GAP T cells will help people with GPC3-positive solid tumors. This study enrolls patients who have GPC3-positive solid tumors (currently only enrolling liver tumors).

Read the detailed description

Approximately 18-30 subjects will participate in the treatment part of this study.

Maximum of 180 mL of blood (not exceeding 3ml/kg/day) is collected from patients to grow the T cells and a retrovirus (a special virus that can insert the GPC3 CAR gene into the T cells) is used to genetically engineer them. After the CAR gene was put into the T cells, the investigators make sure that they are able to kill GPC3 positive solid tumor cells in the laboratory.

LYMPHODEPLETION CHEMOTHERAPY:

Several studies suggest that the infused T cells need room to be able to proliferate and accomplish their functions and that this may not happen if there are too many other T cells in circulation. Because of that, participants will receive treatment with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and fludarabine for 3 days before receiving the T-cell infusion. These drugs will decrease the numbers of the participants' own T cells before the investigators infuse the GAP T CELLS.

WHAT THE INFUSION WILL BE LIKE:

After making these cells, they will be frozen. If the patient agrees to participate in this study, at the time the patient is scheduled to be treated, the cells will be thawed and injected into the patient over 5 to 10 minutes. The participant will receive the GAP T CELLS 48 to 72 hours after completing the chemotherapy.

This is a dose escalation study, which means that the investigators do not know the highest dose of GAP T cells that is safe. To find out, the investigators will give the cells to at least 3 participants at one dose level. If that is safe, the investigators will raise the dose given to the next group of participants. The dose each patient gets depends on how many participants get the agent before that patient and how they react. The investigator will tell each patient this information. This will help the participant think about possible harms and benefits. Since the treatment is experimental, what is likely to happen at any dose is not known.

All of the treatments will be given by the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Texas Children's Hospital.

Medical tests before treatment:

  • Physical exam and History
  • Blood tests to measure blood cells, kidney and liver function.
  • Pregnancy test (if the participant is a female who can get pregnant)
  • If the participant is infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) the investigators will do a test to measure the levels of the virus
  • Measurements of the participant's tumor by scans and the tumor marker alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), if the participant's tumor produces this protein.

Medical tests during and after treatment:

  • Physical exams and History
  • Blood tests to measure blood cells, kidney and liver function
  • If the participant is infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) the investigators will repeat the test and monitor the levels of the virus
  • Measurements of the participant's tumor by scans (4-6 weeks after the infusion) and AFP (if applicable at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the infusion).
  • Tumor biopsy between 2-4 weeks after the infusion and as clinically indicated thereafter. For additional clinically indicated tumor biopsies, investigators will ask for a portion of the sample for research.

FOLLOW-UP STUDIES

The investigators will follow the participant during and after the injections. To learn more about the way the T cells are working in the participant's body, up to 60 mL (upto 12 teaspoons, no more than 3ml/kg/day) of blood will be taken from the participant before the chemotherapy, before the T-cell infusion, 1 to 4 hours after the infusion, 3 to 4 days after the infusion (this time point is optional ) at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the injection, every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 4 years and then every year for the next 10 years. Total participation time for this study will be 15 years.

During the time points listed above, if the T cells are found in the participant's blood at a certain amount an extra 5 mL of blood may need to be collected for additional testing.

The investigators will use this blood to look for the frequency and activity of the cells that the investigators have given; that is, to learn more about the way the T cells are working and how long they last in the body. The investigators will also use this blood to see if there are any long-term side effects of putting the new gene (chimeric antigen receptor, CAR) into the cells. In addition to the blood draws, because the participants have received cells that have had a new gene put in them, the participants will need to have long term follow up for 15 years so the investigators can see if there are any long-term side effects of the gene transfer.

Once a year, the participants will be asked to have their blood drawn and answer questions about their general health and medical condition. The investigators may ask the participants to report any recent hospitalizations, new medications, or the development of conditions or illness that were not present when the participants enrolled in the study and may request that physical exams and/or laboratory tests be performed if necessary.

When tumor biopsy is performed for clinical reasons the investigators will request permission to obtain excess sample to learn more about the effects of the treatment on the participant's disease.

In the event of death, the investigators will request permission to perform an autopsy to learn more about the effects of the treatment on the participant's disease and if there were any side effects from the cells with the new gene.

In addition, the investigators would like to ask for participant permission to use tumor biopsy for research purposes only. Associated risk with the biopsy will be discussed with each participant in detail in a procedure specific consent form. The investigators will test the sample to see if the GAP T cells can be found in the tumor and what effect they had on the tumor cells.

If participants develop a second abnormal cancer growth, significant blood or nervous system disorder during the trial, a biopsy sample of the tissue will be tested.

Conditions
Liver Cancer
Being tested
GAP T cells, Cytoxan, Fludara
Keywords
GPC3-CAR T cells, GPC3, Glypican, Liver cancer
Medical subject headings
Liver Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • GAP T cellsGenetic

    Also called GPC3-CAR T cells

    Five different dosing schedules will be evaluated. Three to six patients will be evaluated on each dosing schedule. The following dose levels will be evaluated:

    DL1: 1x10^7/m2

    DL2: 3x10^7/m2

    DL3: 1x10^8/m2

    DL4: 3x10^8/m2

    DL5: 1x10^9/m2

    The doses are calculated according to the actual number of GPC3-CAR transduced T cells.

  • CytoxanDrug

    Also called Cyclophosphamide

    Cyclophosphamide will be given at a dose of 500 mg/m2/day for 3 days given intravenously.

  • FludaraDrug

    Also called Fludarabine

    Fludarabine will be given at a dose of 30 mg/m2/day for 3 days given intravenously.

Study groups in NCT02932956
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
GAP T cells + Fludarabine and CytoxanExperimentalGPC3-Car (GAP T cells) along with lymphodepleting chemotherapy (Cytoxan and Fludarabine) will be administered to patients with GPC3-positive solid tumors.
Receives: Genetic: GAP T cells; Drug: Cytoxan; Drug: Fludara

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of Patients with Dose Limiting Toxicity

    A dose limiting toxicity is defined as any toxicity that is considered to be primarily related to the GPC3-CAR T cells. Specifically those which are Grade 5; non-hematologic Grade 3-4 not returning to Grade 2 within 72 hours; Grade 2-4 allergic reaction; Hematologic Grade 4 that fails to return to Grade 2 or baseline (whichever is more severe) within 14 days; all grade 4 CRS and neurologic toxicities and grade 3 CRS and neurologic toxicities that fail to return to Grade 1 within 7 days.

    Measured: 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Percent of Patients with best response as either complete remission or partial remission

    Response rates will be estimated as the percent of patients whose best response is either complete remission or partial remission by combining the data from the two patients. To compare with historical data, a 95% confidence interval will be calculated for the response rate.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  2. Median T cell persistence

    as measured by PCR

    Measured: 15 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Oct 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study start17 Dec 2018
  3. Primary completion27 Sep 2021
  4. Study completionFeb 2037 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
10 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02932956
Sponsor's protocol ID
H-39410- GAP
Other IDs
GAP
Acronym
GAP
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
12 Oct 2016
Last updated
19 Sep 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing GAP T cells, Cytoxan and Fludara in people with Liver Cancer, run by Baylor College of Medicine at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 23 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of Patients with Dose Limiting Toxicity (time frame: 6 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Sep 2025.

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