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CD133-Directed CAR T Cells in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Arm, Open-Label, Phase II Trial

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) circulate in increased numbers in the peripheral blood of patients with highly vascularized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and contribute to angiogenesis and neovascularization. The EPC marker CD133 is highly expressed in HCC. This phase II study investigated CD133-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T (CART-133) cells in adults with HCC. 
 
Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed and measurable advanced HCC and adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal functions received CART-133 cell infusions. The primary endpoints were safety in phase I and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in phase II. Other endpoints included biomarkers for CART-133 T cell therapy.  
 
Findings: Between June 1, 2015, and September 1, 2017, this study enrolled 18 patients who subsequently received CART-133 T cells across phases I and II. The median OS was 11.8 months (95% CI, 8.8-15.9 months) and the median PFS was 6.5 months (95% CI, 3.9-8.7 months). Of 18 evaluable patients, 1 had a partial response, 11 had stable disease for 2 to 16.3 months, and 6 progressed after T-cell infusion. The most common high-grade adverse event weas hyperbilirubinemia. Outcome was correlated with the baseline levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble VEGF receptor 2 (sVEGFR2), stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 and EPC counts. Changes in EPC counts, VEGF, SDF-1, sVEGFR2 and interferon (IFN)-g after cell infusion were associated with survival. 
 
Interpretation: In patients with previously treated advanced HCC, CART-133 cell therapy demonstrates promising antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile, and the preliminary activity observed warrants further investigation in randomised trials. 
 
Trial Registration: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02541370) 
 
Funding Statement: This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81602711), National Key Research and Development Plan (2017YFA0205400). 
 
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. 
 
Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocols were approved by the institutional review board at the Chinese PLA General Hospital, and the patients provided written informed consent. 
 
The animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of PLAGH.