Using CAR T cells to target a specific cancer marker in ovarian cancer patients
Official title: A Phase 1 Study to Evaluate Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells Targeting TAG72 in Patients with Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-10914190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for women with recurrent ovarian cancer that uses special immune cells to help the body fight the cancer more effectively, especially by delivering these cells directly where the cancer is likely to spread.
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 | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $668,834 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266874-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who have limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage ovarian cancer or those whose cancer does not express the TAG72 marker may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new immunotherapy approach for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) by utilizing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. The therapy aims to retrain the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells that express the TAG72 marker, which is prevalent in EOC. The study will explore the effectiveness of delivering these CAR T cells directly into the abdominal cavity, where the cancer often spreads, to enhance their anti-tumor activity. By addressing the challenges of tumor infiltration and persistence of T cells in the harsh tumor environment, this research seeks to improve treatment outcomes for patients with limited options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and effective treatment option for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with CAR T cell therapies in various cancers, indicating potential success for this novel approach in ovarian cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Lorna — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Lorna
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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TAG72 CAR-T therapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer
A targeted CAR-T cell therapy delivered into the abdomen for women with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer to attack cancer cells expressing TAG72.
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Liquid biopsy clues: plasma bacteria as early warning for epithelial ovarian cancer
A patient-friendly look at a new approach that uses tiny bacteria signals in blood to help detect ovarian cancer early.
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Understanding how cancer cells talk to the immune system and how to use that to treat ovarian cancer
This grant studies how aging-like changes in ovarian cancer cells drive harmful signals and tests new ways to block those signals to improve treatment.
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Targeting the immune system to help treat recurrent ovarian cancer
Aims to test a new approach that blocks a part of the immune system (complement) to boost anticancer immunity in people with recurrent ovarian cancer and fluid buildup.
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Th17-inducing vaccine plus pembrolizumab for recurrent ovarian cancer
A phase I/II study tests a vaccine that activates Th17 immune cells together with pembrolizumab to help fight recurrent ovarian cancer.
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CAR T-cell therapy targeting TAG72 for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer
This trial tries a CAR T‑cell treatment that targets the TAG72 protein for people with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, given directly into the abdomen.
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.