UPCC 06525: Phase I Clinical Trial of Autologous Folate Receptor-Alpha Redirected T Cells in Patients with FRa+ Cancers

Study of Investigational T Cell Therapy for FRa+ Cancers

Enrolling By Invitation
18 years or above
All
Phase 1
10 participants needed
1 Location

Brief description of study

This is a Phase I open-label clinical trial to assess the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of intrapleural administration of MOv19-BBz CAR T cells in patients with FRa+ cancers. This study will be initiated in patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) only. Subjects will receive a single dose of MOv19-BBz CAR T cells via intrapleural infusion following lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Subjects without an existing intra-pleural catheter will have a temporary pleural catheter placed for the study. Subjects may initiate treatment with commercial checkpoint inhibitors per routine care beginning at least 28 days after receiving MOv19-BBz CAR T cells.

Eligibility of study

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

  • Conditions: Metastatic Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, Recurrent Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma
  • Age: 18 years or above
  • Gender: All

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Signed informed consent form
  2. Documentation of tumor FRa expression by IHC at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (≥ 10% of tumor cells). Subjects must have archived tumor tissue available.
  3. Disease-specific criteria:
    1. NSCLC Patients: i. Metastatic or recurrent lung adenocarcinoma with cytologically or pathologically confirmed malignant pleural effusion.
     ii. Failure of at least one prior line of standard of care therapy for advanced
     stage disease.

4. Patients must have evidence of active disease as defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria

5. Patients with asymptomatic CNS metastases that have been treated (and are off

     steroids for the treatment of CNS disease) are allowed. They must meet the following
     criteria
       1. No concurrent treatment for the CNS disease
       2. No progression of CNS metastasis on MRI at screening
       3. No evidence of leptomeningeal disease or cord compression

6. Adequate organ function defined as:

  1. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance ≥ 30 cc/min; Patient must not be on dialysis
  2. ALT/AST ≤ 3x upper limit of normal range
  3. Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dl, unless the subject has Gilbert's syndrome (if so, serum total bilirubin must be ≤ 3.0 mg/dl)
  4. Must have a minimum level of pulmonary reserve defined as < Grade 1 dyspnea and pulse oxygen > 92% on room air
  5. Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40% confirmed by ECHO or MUGA
  6. Male or female age ≥ 18 years
  7. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status that is either 0 or 1
  8. Subjects must be a possible clinical candidate for standard of care treatment with a

    commercial checkpoint inhibitor, as per physician-investigator assessment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Any clinically significant pleural effusion that cannot be drained with standard approaches.
  2. Patients with significant lung disease as follows:
    1. Patients with radiographic evidence of greater than lobar lymphangitic pulmonary involvement, greater than lobar bronchial wall thickening suggestive of peribronchial lymphatic disease extension, and/or evidence of extensive bilateral parenchymal metastatic burden.Note: "Greater than lobar" = "in more than 1 lobe".
    2. Patients with radiographic and/or clinical evidence of active radiation pneumonitis.
    3. Patients with radiographic evidence of underlying interstitial lung disease, including evidence of unresolved drug toxicity from any agent (e.g. chemotherapy, targeted agents, amiodarone, nitrofurantoin, etc.).
    4. Patients with radiographic evidence of significant pleural effusion that is not readily amenable to minimally invasive drainage.
  3. Active hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection
  4. Any other active, uncontrolled infection
  5. Class III/IV cardiovascular disability according to the New York Heart Association Classification
  6. Active invasive cancer, other than the proposed cancer included in this protocol, within 2 years prior to eligibility confirmation by a physician-investigator. [Note: non-invasive cancers treated with curative intent (e.g., non-melanoma skin cancer) may still be eligible].
  7. Dependence on systemic steroids or immunosuppressant medications.
  8. Pregnant or nursing (lactating) patients. Participants of reproductive potential must agree to use acceptable birth control methods
  9. Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppressive treatment equivalent to ≥ 10mg of prednisone daily. Patients with autoimmune neurologic diseases (such as MS) will be excluded.
  10. History of allergy or hypersensitivity to study product excipients (human serum albumin, DMSO, and Dextran 40)

This study investigates the safety and feasibility of using a type of adoptive cell therapy called CAR T cells in patients with FRa+ cancers. The purpose of this study is to assess how well these modified T cells can be administered directly into the pleural space, which is the area around the lungs, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Participants will receive a single dose of the investigational CAR T cells after undergoing chemotherapy to lower their immune system's activity. A temporary catheter may be placed to help deliver the treatment. After 28 days, participants may begin treatment with standard cancer medications called checkpoint inhibitors.

  • Who can participate: Adults aged 18 and older with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer and FRa+ tumors may participate. Key eligibility includes having adequate organ function and being a candidate for standard checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
  • Study details: Participants will receive a single dose of investigational CAR T cells through a pleural infusion after chemotherapy. A temporary catheter may be used for this procedure. Participants may start standard checkpoint inhibitor treatment 28 days after the infusion.
Updated on 18 Jun 2026. Study ID: 25-1074
If you need assistance finding a non-cancer clinical research study or if you have any questions, please email psom-ocr@pobox.upenn.edu For Cancer trials contact Penn Medicine's Cancer Trial Navigator at: PMCancerResearch@pennmedicine.upenn.edu or 215-349-8245

Study is selecting its participants from a population, or group of people, decided on by the researchers in advance.

Contact Abramson Cancer Center Navigator