Researchers at Texas Children’s Cancer Center and the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Houston Methodist have made significant progress in the treatment of high-risk sarcomas. The results of their phase I clinical trial utilizing CAR T cell therapy targeting the HER2 protein have been published in the journal Nature Cancer.
Dr. Meenakshi Hegde, the first and corresponding author of the study, highlighted the importance of this breakthrough, stating, "CAR T cell therapy has been a highly successful strategy for recurrent or high-risk leukemias or lymphomas, but challenges remain in using this therapy for solid tumors." Dr. Hegde also expressed optimism about the trial's outcomes, stating, "The results of this trial show that we are moving the dial in harnessing the power of CAR T cells as an effective anticancer therapy for sarcomas."
In the HEROS 2.0 trial, researchers implemented innovative strategies to enhance the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy. By increasing the number of HER2-CAR T cell infusions and utilizing lymphodepletion to improve CAR T cell expansion and persistence, the study demonstrated improved clinical outcomes. Dr. Hegde explained, "We also increased the number of allowable HER2-CAR T infusions to sustain the exposure time of CAR T cells, with the goal of increasing the antitumor effect."
The success of the HEROS 2.0 trial is a testament to the collaborative efforts between researchers and healthcare providers in advancing cancer treatment. Dr. Nabil Ahmed, the senior author of the study, emphasized the significance of this progress, stating, "HEROS 2.0 exemplifies how the crosstalk between the bench and the bedside results in refinement of first-in-child studies and more durable clinical benefit."
The researchers are now focusing on further refining the treatment approach and are actively recruiting for the HEROS 3.0 trial. This next phase will evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining HER2-CAR T cells with chemotherapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor drug, aiming to enhance the therapeutic outcomes for sarcoma patients.
The study was supported by various institutions and foundations dedicated to pediatric cancer research, underscoring the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of this groundbreaking work.
