Autologous HER2-specific CAR T cells after lymphodepletion for advanced sarcoma: a phase 1 trial

In this prospective, interventional phase 1 study for individuals with advanced sarcoma, we infused autologous HER2-specific chimeric antigen receptor T cells (HER2 CAR T cells) after lymphodepletion with fludarabine (Flu) ± cyclophosphamide (Cy): 1 × 108 T cells per m2 after Flu (cohort A) or Flu/Cy (cohort B) and 1 × 108 CAR+ T cells per m2 after Flu/Cy (cohort C). The primary outcome was assessment of safety of one dose of HER2 CAR T cells after lymphodepletion. Determination of antitumor responses was the secondary outcome. Thirteen individuals were treated in 14 enrollments, and seven received multiple infusions. HER2 CAR T cells expanded after 19 of 21 infusions. Nine of 12 individuals in cohorts A and B developed grade 1–2 cytokine release syndrome. Two individuals in cohort C experienced dose-limiting toxicity with grade 3–4 cytokine release syndrome. Antitumor activity was observed with clinical benefit in 50% of individuals treated. The tumor samples analyzed showed spatial heterogeneity of immune cells and clustering by sarcoma type and by treatment response. Our results affirm HER2 as a CAR T cell target and demonstrate the safety of this therapeutic approach in sarcoma. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT00902044 . In this phase 1 trial, Hegde et al. treat 13 individuals with advanced sarcoma with lymphodepletion followed by HER2-specific CAR T cells, which were found to be safe and showed antitumor activity.