HERV-E TCR Transduced Autologous T Cells in People With Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

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Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an incurable condition. Current therapy for this disease consists of the serial administration of agents such as VEGF, mTOR inhibitors and immunotherapy (high-dose (HD) IL-2 or immune-checkpoint inhibitors). Long-term survival can be achieved with high-doses ...

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an incurable condition. Current therapy for this disease consists of the serial administration of agents such as VEGF, mTOR inhibitors and immunotherapy (high-dose (HD) IL-2 or immune-checkpoint inhibitors). Long-term survival can be achieved with high-doses IL-2 or immune-checkpoint inhibitors. However, of those patients treated with immunotherapy, three quarters will not respond at all and only 5-8% will achieve a complete and durable response. Our team isolated a tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained after an allogeneic transplant from a patient who showed prolonged tumor regression. Using limiting dilution cloning, we identified an allogeneic (derived from the stem cell donor) CD8+ T-cell clone that killed ccRCC cells in an HLA A11 restricted fashion. Using cDNA expression cloning, we identified a HERV-E derived antigen expressed in the patient s ccRCC cells to be the target of this T-cell clone. Remarkably, we found this HERV-E was expressed in the majority of ccRCC cells with no expression in normal tissues. Based on the identification of the antigenicity of the HERV-E transcripts in ccRCC, our team in collaboration with Dr. Nishimura s laboratory (Loyola University Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center) has cloned, expressed and characterized the TCR from this CD8+ T-cell clone that recognizes an HLA A11 restricted HERV-E antigen. This research protocol is therefore designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of infusion of HERV-E TCR transduced CD8+/CD34+ enriched T cells in HLA-A*11:01 positive patients with metastatic clear cell RCC. Subjects will receive a novel non-myeloablative immunosuppressive conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine followed by an infusion of HERV-E TCR transduced CD8+/CD34+ enriched T cells. To mediate T cell survival and sustain function, moderate-doses of IL-2 (aldesleukin) will be administered intravenously twice a day for 14 doses. The primary endpoint is safety by day 21. Secondary endpoints will include overall response rate, progressionfree survival and overall survival. We will also evaluate for the persistence of circulating HERV-E TCR transduced CD8+/CD34+ enriched T cells, changes in immune cell subsets and activation status of T cells, as well as, other immunologic determinants with clinical outcomes at baseline, at different time points during treatment and at the time of disease progression.

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