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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Immunotherapy for Malignant Pediatric Brain Tumors Employing Adoptive Cellular Therapy (IMPACT)

Immunotherapy for Malignant Pediatric Brain Tumors Employing Adoptive Cellular Therapy (IMPACT) (NCT06193759) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Medulloblastoma, Childhood and Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor of CNS, sponsored by Children's National Research Institute. 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 is an open-label phase 1 safety and feasibility study that will employ multi-tumor antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TSA-T) directed against proteogenomically determined personalized tumor-specific antigens (TSA) derived from a patient's primary brain tumor tissues. Young patients with embryonal central nervous system (CNS) malignancies typically are unable to receive irradiation due to significant adverse effects and are treated with intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell rescue; however, despite intensive therapy, many of these patients relapse. In this study, individualized TSA-T cells will be generated against proteogenomically determined tumor-specific antigens after standard of care treatment in children less than 5 years of age with embryonal brain tumors. Correlative biological studies will measure clinical anti-tumor, immunological and biomarker effects.

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 Medulloblastoma, Childhood, 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 12 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)

RECIPIENT SCREENING INCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Diagnosis (select one group): - Group A: New diagnosis of CNS embryonal tumors: medulloblastoma, embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes, pineoblastoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, and embryonal tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS). - Group B: Radiographic evidence consistent with recurrent ependymoma, with planned or recent re-resection. 2. Age: o Group A: \<5 years of age at enrollment o Group B: \>1 year and \<30 years of age at enrollment 3. Tissue: - Group A: Availability of sufficient fresh or frozen tumor tissue (approximately 50 mg). - Group B: Expectation of sufficient fresh or frozen tumor tissue, in the opinion of study PI or sub-I (based upon radiographic evidence of disease). 4. Non-pregnant: - Group A: N/A - Group B: For female of childbearing potential, must have negative pregnancy test. Common to both groups: 5. Karnofsky or Lansky score of ≥60%. 6. your organs (liver, kidneys, etc.) are working well enough based on blood tests, defined below: i. white blood cell count (ANC) at least 750/µL. ii. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) \>500/μL. iii. platelet count at least 75K. iv. Bilirubin ≤3xULN. v. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<5x upper limit of normal (ULN). vi. Serum creatinine ≤1.0 mg/dL or 1.5x ULN for age (whichever is higher). vii. Pulse oximetry \>90% on room air. 7. The patient (if ≥18 years old), or the patient's parent(s)/legal guardian(s) (if the patient is a minor), is capable of providing willing to sign a consent form. 8. Patient deemed to be of sufficient size to undergo MNC apheresis for TSA-T generation (Groups A and B) and PBSC rescue (Group A only). 9. Patient is a surgical candidate for placement of a Rickham reservoir in the opinion of study PI or medically licensed sub-I. RECIPIENT INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PROCUREMENT ...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
RECIPIENT SCREENING INCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Diagnosis (select one group): * Group A: New diagnosis of CNS embryonal tumors: medulloblastoma, embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes, pineoblastoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, and embryonal tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS). * Group B: Radiographic evidence consistent with recurrent ependymoma, with planned or recent re-resection. 2. Age: o Group A: \<5 years of age at enrollment o Group B: \>1 year and \<30 years of age at enrollment 3. Tissue: * Group A: Availability of sufficient fresh or frozen tumor tissue (approximately 50 mg). * Group B: Expectation of sufficient fresh or frozen tumor tissue, in the opinion of study PI or sub-I (based upon radiographic evidence of disease). 4. Non-pregnant: * Group A: N/A * Group B: For female of childbearing potential, must have negative pregnancy test. Common to both groups: 5. Karnofsky or Lansky score of ≥60%. 6. Adequate organ function, defined below: i. ANC ≥750/µL. ii. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) \>500/μL. iii. Platelets ≥75K. iv. Bilirubin ≤3xULN. v. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<5x upper limit of normal (ULN). vi. Serum creatinine ≤1.0 mg/dL or 1.5x ULN for age (whichever is higher). vii. Pulse oximetry \>90% on room air. 7. The patient (if ≥18 years old), or the patient's parent(s)/legal guardian(s) (if the patient is a minor), is capable of providing informed consent. 8. Patient deemed to be of sufficient size to undergo MNC apheresis for TSA-T generation (Groups A and B) and PBSC rescue (Group A only). 9. Patient is a surgical candidate for placement of a Rickham reservoir in the opinion of study PI or medically licensed sub-I. RECIPIENT INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PROCUREMENT 1\. Karnofsky or Lansky score of ≥60%. 2. Adequate organ function, defined below: i. ANC ≥750/µL. ii. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) \>500/μL. iii. Platelets ≥75K. iv. Bilirubin ≤3xULN. v. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<5x upper limit of normal (ULN). vi. Serum creatinine ≤1.0mg/dL or 1.5x ULN for age (whichever is higher). vii. Pulse oximetry \>90% on room air. 3. Non-pregnant: * Group A: N/A * Group B: For female of childbearing potential (if applicable; see section 2.3.1.6), must have negative pregnancy test. RECIPIENT INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR INITIAL TSA-T ADMINISTRATION AND FOR ADDITIONAL INFUSIONS 1. Applicable to TSA-T infusion #1 only: Group B participants must have histopathologic confirmation of recurrent ependymoma. 2. Karnofsky or Lansky score of ≥60%. 3. Adequate organ function, defined as below: i. Bilirubin ≤3x ULN. ii. AST and ALT ≤5x ULN. iii. Serum creatinine ≤1.0mg/dL or 1.5x ULN for age (whichever is higher). iv. Pulse oximetry \>90% on room air. 4. Applicable to TSA-T Infusion #1 only: Adequate count recovery, as described below, from prior therapies: i. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) \>1000/μL ii. Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) \>500/μL 5. Patients must have received their last dose of: a. Myelosuppressive chemotherapy (if applicable) ≥14 days prior to TSA-T infusion b. Focal radiation (if applicable) ≥14 days prior to TSA-T infusion c. Craniospinal irradiation (if applicable) ≥28 days prior to TSA-T infusion 6. Patients must have recovered from all acute effects of prior surgical intervention/s. 7. Group B female of childbearing potential or male capable of fathering a child (if applicable): Agree to use contraceptive measures during TSA-T treatment participation through 6 months following last administration of TSA-Ts 8. Group B female of childbearing potential (if applicable; see section 2.3.1.6), must have negative pregnancy test. 9. Neurologic status: Patient must have a stable neurologic exam for 2 weeks, on a stable or decreasing dose of steroids, prior to administration of the first dose of TSA-T cells, and stability for 1 week prior to all subsequent infusions. The exams demonstrating stability must be performed by the study team, although these may occur via telemedicine if necessary. Patient must agree to a brief (\<72 hours) course of steroids if the PI or medically-licensed sub-I deems it clinically necessary in the context of clinical deterioration. 10. Presence of a Rickham reservoir and catheter for intracerebroventricular administration of TSA-T therapy, placed \>7 days prior to TSA-T infusion. 11. For patients with programmable VP shunts: Able to tolerate the shunt being closed for at least 4 hours, in the opinion of study PI or medically licensed sub-I. EXCLUSION CRITERIA RECIPIENT SCREENING EXCLUSION CRITERIA 1\. Patients with uncontrolled infections. 2. Patients with known HIV infection. 3. Group A patients with medulloblastoma of the SHH subtype. RECIPIENT EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PROCUREMENT 1\. Patients with a fever above 38.0°C. 2. Patients with known HIV infection. 3. Prior immunotherapy with an investigational agent within the 28 days prior to planned date of procurement collection for TSA-T manufacturing. 4\. Patients who will be unable to tolerate the apheresis procedure, including inability to tolerate placement of apheresis line (if applicable), in the opinion of PI or medically licensed sub-I. 5\. Patients who have overly bulky tumors on imaging are ineligible. These include the following: i. Tumor with any evidence of herniation or significant midline shift. ii. Tumor with a significant brainstem component. iii. Patients who are deemed to have overly bulky tumor by the PI of the study. If, due to complications during apheresis or subsequent manufacturing, procurement is repeated at a later date using peripheral whole blood collection, exclusion criterion #4 does not apply. RECIPIENT EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT TSA-T INFUSIONS 1. Patients with progressive disease based on most recent evaluation (for subsequent infusions). a. Patients with progressive disease based on most recent evaluation may receive initial TSA-T infusion but would be ineligible if the tumor is found to be progressive before subsequent infusions 2. Patients with uncontrolled infections. 3. Patients who have overly bulky tumors on imaging are ineligible. These include the following: i. Tumor with any evidence of herniation or significant midline shift. ii. Tumor with a significant brainstem component. iii. Patients who are deemed to have overly bulky tumor by the PI of the study. 4. Patients who received ATG, Campath or other immunosuppressive T cell monoclonal antibodies within 28 days of TSA-T infusion. 5. Patients receiving steroids (e.g., dexamethasone) at a dose of \>0.05 mg/kg/day. 6. Patients who have non-programmable VP shunts.

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

Multi-tumor antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TSA-T) directed against proteogenomically determined personalized tumor-specific antigens (TSA)

Participants in this study will receive TSA-T after completion of standard-of-care treatment.

DRUG

Group A Standard-of-Care Backbone Therapy

Patients will undergo surgical resection, then be treated with standard-of-care therapy as required, which may include up to 3 induction chemotherapy cycles (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, etoposide with or without methotrexate) and up to 3 consolidation cycles (carboplatin and thiotepa, each followed by an infusion of autologous peripheral blood stem cells).

RADIATION

Group B Salvage Backbone Therapy

Patients will undergo surgical re-resection - aiming for gross total resection when feasible - followed by re-irradiation. Re-irradiation may be delivered as a conventional fractionated course, hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, or proton therapy.

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.

Children's National Hospital
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06193759), the sponsor (Children's National Research Institute), 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 NCT06193759 clinical trial studying?

This is an open-label phase 1 safety and feasibility study that will employ multi-tumor antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TSA-T) directed against proteogenomically determined personalized tumor-specific antigens (TSA) derived from a patient's primary brain tumor tissues. Young patients with embryonal central nervous system (CNS) malignancies typically are unable to receive irradiation due to significant adverse effects and are treated with intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell rescue; however, despite intensive therapy, many of these patients relapse. In this study, i… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06193759?

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 NCT06193759?

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 NCT06193759. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06193759. 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 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.