Engineered CAR T immune cells targeting GPC3 for children's solid tumors
Official title: IL-15 and -21 armored GPC3-specific CAR T cells for children with solid tumors
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11468394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Engineered CAR T immune cells that produce IL-15 and IL-21 to better find and fight GPC3-positive solid tumors in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 17, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $615,969 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA258866-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11468394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children whose tumors express glypican-3 and who meet clinical criteria for a CAR T cell therapy trial would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children whose tumors do not express GPC3, those with cancers not suitable for CAR T approaches, or those medically unfit for cell therapy are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This work develops CAR T cells that are taken from a patient (or donor), engineered to recognize a tumor protein called glypican-3 (GPC3), and modified to produce the supportive immune signals IL-15 and IL-21. In lab and animal tests these "armored" CAR T cells expanded better, lasted longer, and resisted exhaustion compared with conventional CAR T cells. The research team aims to move these findings toward treating children with GPC3-expressing solid tumors by studying safety, persistence, and antitumor activity. If it advances to human testing, eligible children would receive the modified cells at a treatment center and be monitored closely for response and side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a more durable and effective immunotherapy option for children with GPC3-positive solid tumors.
How similar studies have gone: CAR T therapies have transformed some blood cancers but have had limited success in solid tumors, and the IL-15/IL-21 'armored' GPC3 CAR T approach shows promising results in preclinical studies but is not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heczey, Andras a. — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Heczey, Andras a.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.