Dual-Target GD2/B7-H3 CAR-NK Cells for Pediatric Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma (DUAL-NK-NB)

Study of CAR-NK Cell Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma

Primary Investigator
J

James2

Primary Investigator

D

David

Primary Investigator

Recruiting
12 months - 21 years
All
Phase 1/2
36 participants needed
1 Location

Brief description of study

This illustrative Phase 1/Phase 2 study tests allogeneic dual-target GD2/B7-H3 (CD276) CAR-NK cells in children and young adults with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma. After lymphodepletion, participants receive IV CAR-NK cells;Part A defines the RP2D and Part B estimates preliminary activity

Detailed description of study

The investigational product in this example is a cord blood-derived allogeneic NK-cell therapy engineered to express a dual-target CAR recognizing GD2 and B7-H3, supported by IL-15 to improve short-term persistence and equipped with an inducible safety switch. The study is designed as a multicenter Phase 1/Phase 2 protocol: Part A uses a standard 3+3 dose-escalation approach across predefined dose levels, and Part B expands at the RP2D in a biomarker-characterized population. All participants undergo central review of tumor tissue or marrow for GD2 and B7-H3 expression before treatment. Patients receive protocol-defined lymphodepletion followed by CAR-NK infusion on Day 0, with optional additional infusions on Days 7 and 14 if there is no dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), uncontrolled cytokine release syndrome (CRS), or rapid progression. Formal disease assessment uses revised International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria (rINRC). Correlative studies assess CAR-NK expansion and persistence, cytokine kinetics, tumor-response associations with antigen density, and whether future development should remain dualtarget or shift toward a GD2-dominant or B7-H3-enriched strategy. Long-term follow-up for gene-modified cellular therapy is planned per local regulatory requirements.

Eligibility of study

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions: Relapsed Neuroblastoma, Refractory Neuroblastoma, High-Risk Neuroblastoma, Ganglioneuroblastoma
  • Age: 12 months - 21 years
  • Gender: All

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 12 months to 21 years at consent/assent.
  • Histologically confirmed neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma with relapsed, refractory, progressive, or persistent high-risk disease for which no curative standard option is available.
  • Measurable or evaluable disease according to revised International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria (rINRC), including MIBG-avid disease, CT/MRI-evaluable soft-tissue disease, and/or bone marrow disease.
  • Tumor material available for central assessment of GD2 and B7-H3 expression; at least one target must be positive.

GD2 is treated as the core target and B7-H3 as the complementary target for correlative target-prioritization analyses.

  • Prior exposure to standard neuroblastoma therapy, including anti-GD2-based therapy, unless contraindicated, unavailable, or declined for a documented medical reason.
  • Lansky or Karnofsky performance score >= 50.
  • Life expectancy >= 8 weeks.
  • Recovery from clinically significant acute toxicities of prior therapy and protocol-defined washout from chemotherapy, biologics, radiation, and prior cell therapy.
  • Adequate organ function: hematologic, renal, hepatic, cardiac, and pulmonary function considered sufficient by protocoldefined laboratory and clinical thresholds.
  • Negative pregnancy test for patients of childbearing potential and agreement to use effective contraception during the protocol-defined period.
  • Written informed consent from parent/legal guardian and assent from the participant when appropriate.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active uncontrolled infection, including bacteremia, uncontrolled viral infection, or invasive fungal disease.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Active grade >= 2 graft-versus-host disease, or systemic immunosuppression for treatment/prevention of graft-versushost disease within the protocol-defined washout period after prior allogeneic transplant.
  • Symptomatic or unstable central nervous system disease requiring urgent medical intervention.
  • Prior genetically modified cellular therapy within the protocol-defined washout window, or unresolved clinically significant toxicity from prior cell therapy.
  • Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Clinically significant uncontrolled cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, or neurologic disorder that would increase study risk.
  • Known hypersensitivity to fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, study-product components, or supportive-care medications required by the protocol.
  • Known uncontrolled HIV infection or uncontrolled hepatitis B or C.
  • Any medical, psychosocial, or logistical condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would make study participation unsafe or would impair protocol adherence.

The purpose of this research study is to learn about a type of immune cell treatment in children and young adults with high-risk neuroblastoma that has come back, did not respond to treatment, is getting worse, or has not fully gone away, and when there is no standard treatment expected to cure it.

Participants will receive a treatment made from donor natural killer (NK) cells that have been genetically changed to recognize 2 targets on neuroblastoma cells (GD2 and B7-H3). Before treatment, participants will have tumor tissue or bone marrow checked at a central lab to see if GD2 and/or B7-H3 is present (at least 1 must be positive). Participants will receive lymphodepletion (treatment to lower immune cells) and then receive the CAR-NK cells through an IV infusion on Day 0. Participants may be able to receive additional CAR-NK infusions on Days 7 and 14 if certain serious side effects do not happen and the cancer is not quickly getting worse. The study team will check the cancer’s response using standard neuroblastoma response criteria. Long-term follow-up is planned for this type of gene-modified cell therapy, based on local rules.

Who can participate:
Children and young adults with relapsed or refractory high-risk neuroblastoma may be able to participate if they:

  • Are age 12 months to 21 years
  • Have neuroblastoma (or ganglioneuroblastoma) that is relapsed, refractory, progressive, or persistent, with no curative standard option available
  • Have disease that can be measured or evaluated on scans and/or bone marrow tests
  • Have tumor tissue or bone marrow available for central testing that shows GD2 and/or B7-H3 (at least 1 target must be positive)
  • Have already tried standard neuroblastoma treatments, including anti-GD2 treatment, unless it was not possible for a documented medical reason
  • Are well enough for study treatment based on their activity level and overall health, and have organ function considered adequate by the study rules

Updated on 25 Mar 2026. Study ID: EB-CARNK-CRC-103

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