Anti-PD-L1 CAR-T (Sun Yat-Sen University)

The NSCLC patients who failed the standard treatments, with positive Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, were enrolled into this trial. About 22 advanced NSCLC patients will be screened according to the criteria. The qualified patients will be recruited and sign the informed consent.Participants will be hospitalized and undergo clinical examinations.
Appropriate volume of peripheral blood will be draw (from 66 ml to 360 ml, depend on the body weight and blood routine test), using Ficoll method to centrifuge peripheral blood cell and collected T cells. PD-L1 CAR gene is cloned in a lenti-viral vector that was composed of T cell activation molecules (Cluster of Differentiation 137 (CD137/CD28) and Cluster of Differentiation 3(CD3) zeta intracellular domains) and PD-L1 single-chain variable fragment(scFv) derived from the variable regions of a PD-L1 monoclonal antibody.Then, investigators packaged pseudo-lentiviral particles in human embryonic kidney (293T) cells that will be used to transduce autologous T cells isolated from the patients. CAR positive T lymphocytes will be determined by FACS with florescence labeled goat anti-human F(ab')2. The plasmids, pseudo-lentiviral particles and transduced T cells will be subject to the stipulated tests by a third party.
Patients will receive leukodepletion chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide: 250mg/m^2 × 3 days; fludarabine: 25mg/m^2× 3 days). One day later, the chemotherapeutic effects would be assessed. PD-L1 CAR-T cells will be infused on day 0 with 10%, day 3 with 30% and day 7 with 60% (total number is (1-2)×10^6/kg). The patients will be observed closely for any adverse reactions and if happened, given supportive treatments.
The patients will be discharged on day 14 and will be followed up for two years according to the study scheme, i.e. once a month for the first three months; once every two months in the first year; since then, once a quarter in the second year. The persistence of PD-L1 CAR-T cells in the circulation will be monitored by fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). If the patients undergo core needle biopsy, the infiltration of CAR positive cells in the tumor tissue will be evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The safety profile and anti-tumor efficacy of the CAR-T cells immunotherapy will be assessed during the whole process based on CTCAE v4.1 and RECIST v1.1.