Targeting a specific protein in brain tumors with CAR T cell therapy and nivolumab.
Official title: Clinical evaluation of IL13Ra2-targeted CAR T cell therapy in combination with nivolumab in patients with recurrent malignant glioma
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-10793527 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for patients with recurring glioblastoma by using a special type of immune therapy called CAR T cell therapy, combined with another medication to help boost its effectiveness, and it's designed to see if this approach can safely improve how well the treatment works against the tumor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2019 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $809,915 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA236500-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10793527 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with recurrent malignant gliomas, particularly those with glioblastoma who have not responded to standard treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-recurrent gliomas or those with other types of brain tumors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel treatment approach for patients with recurrent malignant gliomas, specifically glioblastoma, by using CAR T cell therapy that targets the IL13 receptor alpha 2 protein. The study combines this therapy with nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment against the challenging tumor microenvironment. Patients will receive this combination therapy to assess its safety and potential to improve tumor response. The research aims to gather insights on how to overcome the immunosuppressive factors present in solid tumors, which have historically limited the success of CAR T cell therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment option for patients with aggressive brain tumors that currently have limited treatment options.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with CAR T cell therapies in hematologic malignancies, but this approach in solid tumors like glioblastoma is still being explored and is considered novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Christine — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Brown, Christine
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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.