B7-H3 CAR T cells for relapsed or refractory solid tumors in children and young adults
Official title: A Phase I, Open Label, Dose Escalation, Single Center Study of Autologous B7-H3.CD28Z.CART Cells in Children and Young Adults With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors Expressing B7-H3
Run by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · NCT07358260 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests a new B7-H3 CAR T cell therapy to see if it is safe and can help kids and young adults whose solid tumors have come back or stopped responding to standard treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 9 Months to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | bevacizumab, dinutuximab, CART, CAR T, chemotherapy, radiation, Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 24, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2031 |
| Registry record updated | September 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07358260 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals aged 9 months to under 30 years with relapsed or refractory solid tumors that express B7-H3 and meet performance and organ-function criteria.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without B7-H3-expressing tumors or with significant comorbidities may not benefit from this therapy.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a Phase I, open-label, dose-escalation study evaluating the safety and preliminary effectiveness of B7-H3.CD28Z.CART cells in pediatric and young adult participants with relapsed or refractory solid tumors expressing B7-H3. The trial uses a lymphodepleting regimen with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide prior to CAR T cell infusion and includes regular in-clinic assessments, blood and urine tests, ECGs, echocardiograms, and tumor tissue confirmation of B7-H3 status. Up to 40 participants may be enrolled at a single center (Boston area) under the leadership of Robbie Majzner with support from Band of Parents. The study is the first human use of these specific B7-H3 CAR T cells and builds on prior data suggesting B7-H3 is a feasible target in pediatric tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience tumor response or disease stabilization and gain access to a potentially active cell therapy option.
How similar studies have gone: Similar B7-H3 targeting approaches have shown some activity in pediatric tumors, but this exact CAR T construct is novel to humans and its safety and efficacy are being established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Eligibility Criteria for Prescreening
Purpose of prescreening is to establish B7-H3 expression by IHC performed at Boston Children's Hospital. This can be performed at any time prior to completing the protocol screening process. Participants who meet the following criteria, will be offered participation in the full screening process and protocol enrollment, if eligible:
* Participants must have histologically confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor that is relapsed or refractory for which standard curative measures do not exist or are no longer effective.
* Participant must have adequate pre-trial tumor material available to determine B7-H3 status. Tumor tissue from the most recent resection or biopsy of recurrent disease is preferred. If unavailable, tumor tissue from prior recurrences or from the time of initial diagnosis is acceptable.
* Age \>=9 months and \<30 years.
* Lansky/Karnofsky performance status ≥50% (see Appendix A)
* Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks
* Participants who are screened for this trial should be reasonably anticipated to meet the eligibility criteria for enrollment described in Section 3.2 if their tumor is B7-H3-positive.
* Ability to understand and/or the willingness of their parent or legally authorized representative to sign a written informed consent document for prescreening.
Eligibility Criteria for Enrollment The following criteria are required for initial study enrollment. Once enrolled, participants will need to meet specific criteria prior to lymphocyte apheresis, prior to the receipt of lymphodepletion chemotherapy and B7-H3.CD28Z.CART cell infusion as outlined in the Treatment Section of the Protocol.
Laboratory tests required for eligibility must be completed within 28 days prior to the date of registration. Disease evaluation is required only if needed for eligibility.
The screening window is 28 days.
* Participants must have histologically confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor that is relapsed or refractory for which standard curative measures do not exist or are no longer effective.
* Participants must have measurable or evaluable disease for dose escalation. For expansion phase, participants with neuroblastoma must have measurable or evaluable disease by INRC. Participants with other solid tumors must have measurable disease by RECIST1.1 for the expansion phase.
* B7-H3 expression: Demonstration of B7-H3 expression with H score \>100 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is required by IHC performed at Boston Children's Hospital. Participants may choose to enroll on the prescreening portion, which allows for assessment of B7-H3 expression only, prior to enrollment on the full clinical trial as described in Section 3.1.
* Age \>=12 months and \<30 years.
* Lansky/Karnofsky performance status ≥50% (see APPENDIX A: PERFORMANCE STATUS SCALES/SCORES)
* Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks
* Prior therapy:
At enrollment these criteria do not apply to participants with available leukapheresis products; however, participants must meet all other eligibility criteria and meet criteria to start lymphodepleting chemotherapy as outlined in Section 5.4.1.
Participants must have received prior radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy and recovered from all acute treatment-related toxicities of prior therapy prior to entering this study. There is no upper limit to the number of prior therapies allowed. Participants must be:
* At least 1 week post any small port radiation therapy; at least 6 weeks from large field or other substantial bone marrow irradiation (craniospinal, whole abdomen, total lung, total body irradiation, \>50% marrow).
* At least 2 weeks since any prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy
* At least 28 days from other investigational antineoplastic or disease-directed agents
* At least 7 days from most recent myeloid growth factor, at least 14 days must have elapsed after receipt of pegfilgrastim.
* At least 7 days from prior biologic antineoplastics, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, targeted agent or metronomic non-myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
* At least 21 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, post any treatment with monoclonal antibodies (including checkpoint inhibitors and bevacizumab)
* At least 7 days from dinutuximab treatment
* At least 8 weeks from prior cellular therapy or vaccine therapy with recovery of associated toxicities. If prior CAR T cells, need documented lack of persistence of prior product.
* At least 6 weeks post 131I-MIBG therapy or other radioisotope therapy
* At least 6 weeks post autologous stem cell therapy infusion following myeloablative conditioning
* Participants can be eligible after autologous stem cell infusion without myelosuppressive therapy at any time as long as other criteria are met.
* At least 12 weeks post allogeneic stem cell transplant with no evidence of GVHD or ongoing toxicities.
* Steroid use: Corticosteroids at or below physiologic doses (replacement therapy for management of pituitary/adrenal insufficiency) is allowed and/or topical administration (e.g. inhaled or dermatologic) is allowed. Hydrocortisone for blood product premedication is allowed.
* Participants must have normal marrow function as defined below: Values must be without transfusions or platelet growth factor within 7 days. Participants with known marrow involvement are exempt from these requirements.
* hemoglobin ≥7.0g/dL
* absolute neutrophil count ≥750/mcL
* platelets ≥75,000/mcL
* Adequate renal function defined as creatinine below normal limits for age OR creatinine clearance (as estimated by Cockcroft Gault Equation for participants ≥ 18yo and Bedside Schwartz for participants \<18yo) ≥70mL/min/1.73m2
* Maximu Serum Creatinine (mg/dL)
* 6 months to 1 year: MALE = 0.5 FEMALE = 0.6
* 1 year \< 2 years: MALE = 0.6 FEMALE = 0.6
* 2 year \< 6 years: MALE = 0.8 FEMALE = 0.8
* 6 years \< 10 years: MALE = 1 FEMALE = 1
* 10 years \< 13 years: MALE = 1.2 FEMALE = 1.2
* 13 years \< 16 years: MALE = 1.5 FEMALE = 1.4
* ≥16 years: MALE = 1.7 FEMALE = 1.4
* Adequate hepatic function
* Serum ALT/AST \<3.0X ULN
* Total bilirubin \< 3X ULN, except in participants with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome, where direct bilirubin must be \<3X ULN.
* Adequate cardiac function
* Ejection fraction ≥50% or fractional shortening ≥28%, measured by echocardiography
* Adequate pulmonary function
* No evidence of dyspnea at rest
* No exercise intolerance due to pulmonary insufficiency
* Pulse oximetry \>92% while breathing room air
* Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test
* The effects of B7-H3.CD28z.CART on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because other chemotherapeutic agents used in the study are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of the study, and for 1 year after receiving the preparative lymphodepletion regimen or for as long as B7-H3.CD28z.CARTs are detectable in peripheral blood. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, and for 1 year after receiving the preparative lymphodepletion regimen or for as long as B7-H3.CD28z.CARTs are detectable in peripheral blood.
* Ability to understand and/or the willingness of their parent or legally authorized representative to sign a written informed consent document. Pediatric patients will be included in the consent discussion as age-appropriate and will provide written informed assent as applicable per institutional standard.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.
* Participants with known current brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease. Prior CNS metastatic disease is allowable if prior resection and/or radiation occurred at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment, without any intervening CNS metastasis, progression or recurrence, and participants are clinically stable as evidenced by no requirements for corticosteroids, no evolving neurologic deficits, and no progression of residual brain abnormalities.
* Participants with any prior immunodeficiency or history of autoimmune disease requiring systemic steroids/ immunosuppressive medication/ disease modifying agents within the last 2 years
* Prior solid organ transplant. Prior allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant is permitted as outlined in Section 3.2.
* Active or uncontrolled viral, bacterial or fungal infection. Participants may be receiving ongoing therapy for controlled infection.
* Participants with a known additional malignancy other than non-melanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ, unless not requiring active treatment and stable or disease-free for at least 3 years.
* CNS disorder such as cerebrovascular ischemia/hemorrhage, dementia, cerebellar disease, or autoimmune disease with CNS involvement that in the judgement of the investigator may impair the ability to evaluate neurotoxicity.
* History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biologic compositions to any agents used in the study or in the manufacturing of cells.
* HIV/HBV/HCV infection: Participants are required to be negative for HIV Antibody or HIV viral load, negative for Hepatitis surface antigen (HbsAg) or viral load and negative for HCV antibody or HCV viral load. These participants are ineligible because of the potential for in vivo retroviral recombination events that could lead to replication-competent γ-retrovirus. A history of HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C is permitted if the viral load is undetectable per quantitative PCR and/or nucleic acid testing.
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
* Pregnant women are excluded from this study because the effects of B7-H3.CD28Z.CART cells on the developing fetus are unknown and because chemotherapeutic agents with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects are used in this study. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants, secondary to treatment of the mother with B7-H3.CD28Z.CART cells and chemotherapy, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with T cells on this study (NOTE: breast milk cannot be stored for future use while the mother is being treated on study).
Where it's running
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Dana Farber Cancer Institite
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Natalie Collins, MD — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Natalie Collins, MD
- Email: dfbchpedicelltherapy@dfci.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-632-3027
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.