Researcher: Kenneth DeSantes, MD (Principal Investigator – 608-263-8563) - Paul M. Sondel, MD, PhD (Collaborator – 608-263-9069)
Project Title: Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma with Ex-Vivo Activated and Expanded Haploidentical NK Cells and Continuous Infusion Hu14.18-IL2
Hospital Affiliation: American Family Children's Hospital
Location: Madison, WI
Year Funded: 2019 & 2020
Summary:
This study will use immunotherapy to harness one of the child's parent's immune system to fight the cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical trial to administer haploiidentical ex-vivo expanded NK cells to kids with cancer. Blood from one of the parents will be collected and sent to the laboratory to grow Natural Killer (NK) cells. Because NK cells are good at killing cancer, but not always at recognizing tumor cells, the NK cells will be infused with an anti-body that specifically attaches to neuroblastoma.
Project Details:
Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma with Ex-Vivo Activated and Expanded Haploidentical NK Cells and Continuous Infusion Hu14.18-IL2 American Family Children's Hospital has just opened up a Phase I Clinical Trial for children whose neuroblastoma has returned or whose nueroblastoma has not responded to conventional therapies. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid tumors in children and patients who are classified as "high-risk" (about 40 percent) and have less than a 50 percent survival rate.
This study will use immunotherapy to harness one of the child's parent's immune system to fight the cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical trial to administer haploiidentical ex-vivo expanded NK cells to kids with cancer. Blood from one of the parents will be collected and sent to the laboratory to grow Natural Killer (NK) cells. Because NK cells are good at killing cancer, but not always at recognizing tumor cells, the NK cells will be infused with an anti-body that specifically attaches to neuroblastoma.
In this Phase I study, clinical trial participants will be treated with four cycles of immunotherapy given 4-6 weeks apart. The antibody - IL-2 conjugate – is administered to participants every day for 7 days after the NK cell infusions. Before this process begins, the participants undergo chemotherapy before each of the 4 rounds to prevent rejection of the donor NK cells and give them enough time to attack the cancer.
Grant funding for this project will provide crucial funding to support production of the AE-NK cells utilized in this trial.