Staff Reports | Community Updates
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center has opened enrollment for a Phase II clinical trial of a double-loaded autologous dendritic cell therapy for patients with glioblastoma.
The trial will study a personalized immunotherapy approach designed to engage a complete immune response against a patient’s cancer, according to a press release. Glioblastoma remains one of the most challenging brain cancers, with median survival of 14 to 16 months after diagnosis.
“Most research on glioblastoma therapeutics has focused on common single targets, but everyone’s tumor is different,” said Joseph Georges, DO, PhD, neurosurgeon at Banner MD Anderson. “We aimed to make a personalized therapeutic for each patient based on their tumor, which teaches their body’s immune system to target the full complement of tumor antigens,” Dr. Georges said.
Dr. Georges collaborated with William Decker, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine and Diakonos Oncology on the development of the therapy, known as DOC1021 or Dubodencel. Ramya Tadipatri, MD, a neuro-oncologist at Banner MD Anderson, will lead the Phase II study.
Phase I findings showed a favorable safety profile and encouraging signs of efficacy, with a 12-month overall survival rate of 88%, compared to about 60% with standard care. Four patients remain alive at 22 to 33 months of follow-up.
Phase II is expected to take two to three years, with long-term follow-up planned. Twenty sites nationwide have been selected to enroll patients, with potential expansion to Phase III after enrollment targets are met.
“We are delighted to offer access to this clinical trial in our community that may provide a new treatment option for patients with glioblastoma,” said Nicholas Theodore, MD, MS, chairman of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s department of neurosurgery at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
