AFP and GPC3 dual-targeted CAR-T cells showed better anti-tumor effects in HCC than AFP or GPC3 single-targeted CAR-T cells.

P1, N=27, Not yet recruiting, Baylor College of Medicine

The cathepsin L/interleukin-17 (CTSL/IL-17) axis contributed to the superior anti-HCC activity of GC3328z-NKBB CAR-T cells. Overall, the molecular receptor NKBB significantly increased the persistence of GPC3 CAR-T cells, and GC3328z-NKBB CAR-T cells possessed potent anti-HCC activity in mice, providing a new strategy for the potential improvement of adoptive T cell therapy in the treatment of HCC.

P1, N=38, Recruiting, National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Trial completion date: Dec 2025 --> Dec 2027 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2024 --> Dec 2026

Recently, GPC3-targeted therapies have been used in different investigational therapeutic approaches like bi-specific/monoclonal antibodies, peptide vaccines, and CAR T cell therapies. This study aims to highlight the theranostic potential of GPC-3 as a novel biomarker for early detection and as a potential molecular target for HCC treatment as well.

P1/2, N=110, Recruiting, Sotio Biotech Inc. | Trial completion date: Dec 2041 --> Dec 2042 | Trial primary completion date: Apr 2026 --> Oct 2027

Compared with non-responders, tumour-infiltrating 15.CAR T cells from responders showed repression of SWI/SNF epigenetic regulators and upregulation of FOS and JUN family members, as well as of genes related to type I interferon signalling. Collectively, these results demonstrate that IL-15 increases the expansion, intratumoural survival and antitumour activity of GPC3 CAR T cells in patients.

Transgenic TCRs join forces with CARs, expanding the arsenal of GPC3-targeting receptors for HCC T-cell therapy.

We elucidate the therapeutic benefits of CAR T cells in HCC and identify the primary barriers to their broader application. Our analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of CAR T-cell immunotherapy for HCC.

P1, N=15, Recruiting, Zhejiang University | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting

However, in advanced HCC, clinical trials have not demonstrated sufficient anti-tumor efficacy, in contrast with preclinical studies. Reverse translation, bedside-to-bench research, is crucial to identify the factors that have hindered GPC3 target immunotherapies.

P1/2, N=30, Not yet recruiting, Chinese PLA General Hospital

GPC-3's re-expression in HCC and its involvement in key tumorigenic processes underscore its value as a biomarker for early diagnosis and a target for therapeutic intervention. Further research is warranted to fully exploit GPC-3's diagnostic and therapeutic potential in HCC management.

The protocol includes producing retroviral vectors, generating CAR T cells, and conducting ecto-ADA1 activity, cytotoxicity, cell migration, and RNA sequencing assays. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hu et al.1.

P=N/A, N=12, Not yet recruiting, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang; The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang | Initiation date: May 2024 --> Sep 2024

P1/2, N=121, Not yet recruiting, Shanghai AbelZeta Ltd.

Overall, our study successfully generated GPC3 CAR-T cells expressing both IL-21 and CXCL9, demonstrated that combining PD-1 blockade can further enhance CAR-T cell function by promoting proliferation, cytokine secretion, chemotaxis and antitumor activity. These findings present a hopeful and potentially effective strategy for GPC3-positive HCC patients.

P1, N=24, Recruiting, Baylor College of Medicine | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting

P1, N=30, Recruiting, CARsgen Therapeutics Co., Ltd.

P1, N=10, Terminated, jianming xu | N=34 --> 10 | Trial completion date: Oct 2026 --> Jul 2024 | Recruiting --> Terminated; achieve the proof of concept

P1, N=11, Active, not recruiting, Takeda | Trial completion date: Dec 2026 --> Jul 2026 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2026 --> Jul 2026

This study provides a rationale for NT-I7 plus CAR-T cell combination therapy for solid tumors in humans.

P=N/A, N=12, Recruiting, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang; The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang

P=N/A, N=64, Not yet recruiting, AstraZeneca | Initiation date: Jun 2024 --> Oct 2024

P1, N=30, Recruiting, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting | Trial completion date: Dec 2033 --> Dec 2036 | Initiation date: Jan 2024 --> May 2024 | Trial primary completion date: Nov 2026 --> Nov 2030

P1, N=30, Recruiting, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University | Trial completion date: Aug 2026 --> Aug 2036 | Trial primary completion date: Aug 2024 --> Aug 2026

P1, N=30, Recruiting, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University | Trial completion date: Mar 2033 --> Mar 2036 | Trial primary completion date: Mar 2026 --> Mar 2029

P1, N=30, Recruiting, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University | Trial completion date: Aug 2029 --> Aug 2036 | Trial primary completion date: Aug 2025 --> Aug 2029

The anti-FAP-GPC3 bispecific CAR-T cells also exhibited superior antitumor efficacy and significantly prolonged the survival of mice compared with single-target CAR-T cells in vivo. Overall, the use of anti-FAP-GPC3 bispecific CAR-T cells is a promising treatment approach to reduce tumor recurrence caused by tumor antigen heterogeneity.

In 3D NACs-origami spheroid model of HCC, CAR-Ms were further demonstrated to have a significant tumor killing effect. Together, our study provides a new strategy for the treatment of HCC through CAR-M cells targeting GPC3, which provides a basis for the research and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

P1, N=15, Not yet recruiting, Zhejiang University

The combination of mdivi-1 and CD39 knockdown in CAR-T cells yielded the highest proportion of infiltrated CD39int CAR-T cells and demonstrated a robust antitumor activity in vivo. In conclusion, this study revealed the crucial role of CD39 in CAR-T cell function, demonstrated the potential therapeutic efficacy of combining mdivi-1 with CD39 knockdown in HCC, and provided a novel treatment strategy for HCC patients in the field of cellular immunotherapy.

In this study, lapatinib-resistant cells were used to test the concept of "Evolutionary Traps" and no suitable target stand out because of the identified genes without accessible drug...To test whether this concept is cell line or drug dependent, we analyzed 21 drug-resistant tumor cell expression profiles reveal that JAG1, GPC3, and L1CAM, which are suitable targets for CAR-T treatment, are significantly upregulated in various drug-resistant tumor cells. Our findings shed light on the feasibility of utilizing CAR-T therapy to treat drug-resistant tumors and broaden the concept of the "Evolutionary Trap".

Finally, we revealed that GLUT1 or AGK maintained anti-apoptosis ability in CD8+ T cells via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. This finding might identify a therapeutic strategy for advanced HCC.

P1, N=9, Not yet recruiting, Beijing Immunochina Medical Science & Technology Co., Ltd.

P=N/A, N=64, Not yet recruiting, AstraZeneca | N=30 --> 64 | Initiation date: Feb 2024 --> Jun 2024

P1, N=12, Recruiting, Eutilex | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting | Trial completion date: Nov 2024 --> Dec 2025 | Trial primary completion date: May 2024 --> Jun 2025

P1, N=48, Recruiting, Zhejiang University | N=20 --> 48

P1, N=21, Not yet recruiting, Baylor College of Medicine

P1/2, N=110, Recruiting, Sotio Biotech Inc. | Trial completion date: Jul 2039 --> Dec 2041 | Trial primary completion date: Jul 2024 --> Apr 2026

P=N/A, N=30, Not yet recruiting, AstraZeneca

P1, N=11, Active, not recruiting, Takeda | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting | N=18 --> 11