FOLR1-targeted CAR-T (Fred Hutchinson)

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of FH-FOLR1 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in treating pediatric patients with FOLR1+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or has not responded to previous treatment (refractory). CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment in which a patient's T cells (a type of immune system cell) are changed in the laboratory so they will attack cancer cells. T cells are taken from a patient's blood. Then the gene for a special receptor that binds to a FOLR1 on the patient's cancer cells is added to the T cells in the laboratory. The special receptor is called a chimeric antigen receptor. Large numbers of the CAR T cells are grown in the laboratory and given to the patient by infusion for treatment of certain cancers. Chemotherapy drugs, such as fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, are given to a patient before the manufactured FH-FOLR1 CAR T cells are infused back into the patient to assist in the CAR T cell activity in the patient. The trial is evaluating if giving FH-FOLR1 CAR T cell therapy is safe and tolerable for pediatric patients with recurrent or refractory AML.