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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Binary Oncolytic Adenovirus in Combination With HER2-Specific Autologous CAR VST, Advanced HER2 Positive Solid Tumors

A First in Human Phase I Trial of Binary Oncolytic Adenovirus in Combination With HER2-Specific Autologous CAR T Cells in Patients With Advanced HER2 Positive Solid Tumors

Binary Oncolytic Adenovirus in Combination With HER2-Specific Autologous CAR VST, Advanced HER2 Positive Solid Tumors (NCT03740256) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Bladder Cancer and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This study is a first in human Phase 1 study that involves patients with a type of cancer called HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) positive cancer. This study asks patients to volunteer to take part in a research study investigating the safety and efficacy of using special immune cells called HER2 chimeric antigen receptor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (HER2 specific CAR T cells), in combination with intra-tumor injection of CAdVEC, an oncolytic adenovirus that is designed to help the immune system including HER2 specific CAR T cell react to the tumor. The study is looking at combining these two treatments together, because we think that the combination of treatments will work better than each treatment alone. We also hope to learn the best dose level of the treatments and whether or not it is safe to use them together. In this study, CAdVEC will be injected into participants tumor at one tumor site which is most easiest to reach. Once it infects the cancer cells, activation of the immune response will occur so it can attack and kill cancer cells. (This approach may have limited effects on the other tumor sites that have not received the oncolytic virus injection, so, patients will also receive specific T cells following the intratumor CAdVEC injection.) These T cells are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill cells infected with viruses and tumor cells. Investigators want to see if these cells can survive in the blood and affect the tumor. Both CAdVEC and HER2-specific autologous CAR T are investigational products. They are not approved by the FDA.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Bladder Cancer, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 45 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: This study will look at solid tumors (as a basket trial for any solid cancer) with HER2 positivity based on IHC Procurement Inclusion Criteria 1. The patient has a diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) advanced refractory HER2 positive solid tumor, including but not limited to: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; cancer of the salivary glands; lung cancer; breast cancer; bladder cancer; gastric cancer; esophageal cancer; colorectal cancer; and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. HER2 positivity is defined as ≥2+ staining by IHC with either the FDA-approved CB11 antibody (Leica) or anti HER2/neu (4B5) (VENTANA), which refers to greater than weak-to-moderate staining intensity in \>10% tumor cells. 2. The disease must be deemed unsuitable for curative treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, or any combination of the above modalities by the referring oncology physician and confirmed by the senior oncologists leading the protocol. 3. Disease must have progressed after standard first line therapy, or without available effective treatment options. Patients are still eligible if they have failed more than one line of therapy. 4. The patient must have at least one tumor site appropriate for intratumoral injection. 5. The patient must have radiographically measurable disease as per RECIST 1.1. 6. Life expectancy more than 12 weeks. 7. The patient is ≥ 18 years of age, able to understand and give willing to sign a consent form to study related procedures and treatments. Procurement Exclusion Criteria 1. History or evidence of active autoimmune conditions (where your immune system attacks your own body) requiring continuous systemic corticosteroids (with more than 10mg/day prednisone or equivalent dose), immunosuppressants or other disease modifying agents (except palliative radiation). 2. Evidence of significant immunosuppressive conditions, such as the following: - Post organ transplant. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: This study will look at solid tumors (as a basket trial for any solid cancer) with HER2 positivity based on IHC Procurement Inclusion Criteria 1. The patient has a histologically confirmed advanced refractory HER2 positive solid tumor, including but not limited to: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; cancer of the salivary glands; lung cancer; breast cancer; bladder cancer; gastric cancer; esophageal cancer; colorectal cancer; and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. HER2 positivity is defined as ≥2+ staining by IHC with either the FDA-approved CB11 antibody (Leica) or anti HER2/neu (4B5) (VENTANA), which refers to greater than weak-to-moderate staining intensity in \>10% tumor cells. 2. The disease must be deemed unsuitable for curative treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, or any combination of the above modalities by the referring oncology physician and confirmed by the senior oncologists leading the protocol. 3. Disease must have progressed after standard first line therapy, or without available effective treatment options. Patients are still eligible if they have failed more than one line of therapy. 4. The patient must have at least one tumor site appropriate for intratumoral injection. 5. The patient must have radiographically measurable disease as per RECIST 1.1. 6. Life expectancy more than 12 weeks. 7. The patient is ≥ 18 years of age, able to understand and give informed consent to study related procedures and treatments. Procurement Exclusion Criteria 1. History or evidence of active autoimmune disease requiring continuous systemic corticosteroids (with more than 10mg/day prednisone or equivalent dose), immunosuppressants or other disease modifying agents (except palliative radiation). 2. Evidence of significant immunosuppressive conditions, such as the following: * Post organ transplant. * Diagnosis of HIV or other immunodeficiency disorders. 3. Diagnosis of other malignancies within 5 years except for cutaneous basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, well-differentiated thyroid cancer, or localized prostate cancer. 4. Patients with known active hepatitis B or C infection. 5. Patient has had acute myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to consent for procurement. 6. Injectable tumor site is considered to incur a significant risk of major hemorrhage (e.g. located in the CNS (brain), and proximal to critical neurovascular structures) per investigator's review. 7. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to psychiatric illness and or social situations that in the opinion of the investigator would compromise compliance of study requirements or put the patient at unacceptable risk. Treatment Inclusion Criteria: 1. Histologically confirmed advanced refractory HER2 positive solid tumors, including but not limited to: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; cancer of the salivary glands; lung cancer; breast cancer; bladder cancer; gastric cancer; esophageal cancer; colorectal cancer; and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. HER2 positivity is defined as ≥2+ staining by IHC with either the FDA-approved CB11 antibody (Leica) or anti HER2/neu (4B5) (VENTANA), which refers to greater than weak-to-moderate staining intensity in \>10% tumor cells (HER2 positivity requirement is excluded in DL1 and DL2 as HER2 targeted agents are not used). 2. The disease must be deemed unsuitable for curative treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, or any combination of the above modalities by the referring oncology physician and confirmed by the senior oncologists leading the protocol. 3. Disease must have progressed after standard first line therapy, or without available effective treatment options. Patients are still eligible if they have failed more than one line of therapy. 4. The patient must have at least one tumor site appropriate for intratumoral injection. 5. The patient must have radiographically measurable disease as per RECIST 1.1. 6. The patient must have adequate organ function within 7 days prior to treatment as indicated by following measures: * Hematologic: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.0 x 10\^9/l; Hemoglobin ≥7 g/dl; Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10\^9/l; PT or PTT ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless the subject is receiving anticoagulation. * Hepatic function: bilirubin \< 2 x ULN, and AST and ALT \< 3 x ULN * Renal Function: serum creatinine \<2 x the ULN or creatinine clearance \>60 mL/min. 7. Prior HER2 targeted therapy is allowed if delivered at least 4 weeks prior to the enrollment. (Excluding DL1 and DL2) 8. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 2 or less (Appendix I). 9. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use contraception during on-study protocol therapy, or deemed to be not able to get pregnant. 10. Male subjects with pregnant partner/female partner of childbearing potential agree to use barrier contraceptive during the study to minimize the risk of embryo-fetal exposure. 11. The patient is ≥ 18 years of age, and able to understand and give informed consent to study related procedures and treatments. Treatment Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with any concurrent treatment that would compromise the study including but not limited to continuous high dose corticosteroids (more than 10mg/day prednisone or equivalent dose), lympho-depleting antibodies, immunotherapy, targeted therapies or cytotoxic agents, CNS metastasis requiring continuous high-dose steroids (more than 10mg/day prednisone or equivalent dose) or other active therapeutic intervention. This does not include stable, previously-treated brain metastases. Patients on DL1 and DL2 can continue prior checkpoint inhibitors and HER2 targeted agents during the DLT evaluation period. 2. Patients at significant risk of airway compromise or other critical obstruction (e.g. bowel, ureter, etc.) in the event of possible post injection tumor inflammation based on the investigative team's judgement. 3. History or evidence of active autoimmune disease requiring continuous systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or other disease modifying agents. 4. Evidence of significant immunosuppressive conditions, such as the following: * Post organ transplant. * Diagnosis of HIV or other immunodeficiency disorders. 5. Diagnosis of other malignancies within 5 years except for cutaneous basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, well-differentiated thyroid cancer, or localized prostate or cervical cancer. 6. Patients with known active infectious disease, such as hepatitis B or C infection. 7. Patient has had acute myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrollment for treatment. 8. Patients with abnormal left ventricular function (LVEF \<55%). 9. Injectable tumor site is considered to incur a significant risk of major hemorrhage (e.g. located in the CNS (brain), pulmonary parenchyma, and proximal to critical neurovascular structures). 10. Pregnant or breastfeeding females. 11. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to psychiatric illness and or social situations that in the opinion of the investigator would compromise compliance of study requirements or put the patient at unacceptable risk.

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

CAdVEC

The intratumoral administration of CAdVEC will create a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment and will promote the recruitment and expansion of adoptively transferred HER2 specific CAR T cells via CAR (tumor antigen). We expect HER2 CAR T cells expanded at primary tumor sites will re-circulate and target metastasized tumors. The combination we propose to test has the potential to overcome each of the established individual limitations of oncolytic viruses and of CAR T-cells. Testing each element separately would not be beneficial or informative, since the combination therapy is anticipated to have unique profiles of both therapeutic benefit and potential toxicities.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
Houston, Texas, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03740256), the sponsor (Baylor College of Medicine), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03740256 clinical trial studying?

This study is a first in human Phase 1 study that involves patients with a type of cancer called HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) positive cancer. This study asks patients to volunteer to take part in a research study investigating the safety and efficacy of using special immune cells called HER2 chimeric antigen receptor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (HER2 specific CAR T cells), in combination with intra-tumor injection of CAdVEC, an oncolytic adenovirus that is designed to help the immune system including HER2 specific CAR T cell react to the tumor. The study is looking a… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03740256?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03740256?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03740256. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03740256. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.