CARGO
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Immunotherapy using CAR T-cells to target EGFRvIII for relapsed/refractory adult Glioblastoma
IRAS ID
1007305
Contact name
Claire Roddie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Eudract number
2022-003747-10
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN22366199
Research summary
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of brain tumour and despite continued research, remains incurable with little improvement in clinical outcomes over the last three decades. Current treatment for GBM includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. While these treatments can be successful in the short term, cancer often returns or progresses (increases) within a year. New treatments for GBM are urgently needed.
The CARGO trial will treat GBM patients with a form of CAR-T cells called CARGO-T cells if standard treatment has failed or their cancer has returned. CAR-T cells are T cells (a type of white blood cells) genetically modified in a lab to target tumour cells. In leukaemia and myeloma, CAR-T cells have shown promising results with several products now NHS approved.
CARGO-T cells target the mutated protein EGFRvIII which can be found on GBM tumour cells in some patients. Patients will be screened for this mutation on trial.
The trial is a phase I, dose finding and safety study. This means the treatment has never been studied before in this disease and a safe or effective dose is unknown. CARGO will test whether CARGO-T cells can be successfully manufactured and used to treat GBM.
Before receiving CARGO T-cells, patients will be treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) to reduce the size of their tumours. PBT is a new type of radiotherapy using protons rather than X-rays and has fewer side effects than traditional radiotherapy.
Participants will then receive a course of lymphodepleting chemotherapy to reduce the number of their T-cells in preparation for CARGO-T cells. The trial involves dose escalation; cohort 2 will receive a higher dose and a cohort 3 will receive a drug called ipilimumab prior to CARGO-T cells to enhance the treatment.
Participants will be followed up for up to 15 years.
Though participants may not directly benefit from the trial, we hope the data and results we gather will help to improve treatments for GBM in the future.REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0471
Date of REC Opinion
9 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion