Cancer Adoptive Cellular Therapy (Can-ACT) Network
Given the lessons learned at the two Cell-based Immunotherapy NCI Workshops on Cell-based Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors and challenges in the field of cell therapy, NCI established the Cancer Adoptive Cellular Therapy (Can-ACT) Network.
Network Purpose
The Cancer Adoptive Cellular Therapy (Can-ACT) Network consists of multiple milestone-driven UG3/UH3 grants (RFA-CA-22-028; RFA-CA-22-029) and a U24 Coordinating Center (RFA-CA-22-030). The network is intended to foster innovation and promote early-stage clinical testing of novel state-of-the-art cell-based immunotherapies for solid tumors in adult and pediatric patients, and leverage NCI resources to support the cell therapy community.
Network Goals
- Develop and enhance immune cellular products modified genetically or through other manipulations for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors
- Support early phase clinical trials
- Explore imaging and biomarker development
- Expand our understanding of the mechanism of action as well as natural and acquired resistance
Network Structure
UG3 phase
- Supports preclinical, translational, and IND-enabling studies that lay the groundwork for the UH3 early-stage clinical trials testing adoptive immune cell therapies
UH3 phase
- Multi-center trials can leverage the Immune Cell Network Core, a set of NCI contract resources at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR). The Core comprises cGMP manufacturing, clinical trials coordination support, and quality systems, and regulatory affairs guidance
U24 Coordinating Center
- Organizes, leads, and administers a Steering Committee to ensure that the network achieves its goals
- Facilitate the receipt and review of administrative research supplements intended to support related research on newly emerging cell therapy technology, to invite collaborators into the network, or to enhance collaborations within the network
- Facilitates network activities to achieve multi-site clinical trial coordination and data collection, harmonization, quality, and sharing
As the network becomes established, NCI plans grant supplement awards to empower collaboration between Cancer Centers and Can-ACT members.
Funded Projects
| Institution | Principal Investigator (s) | Title | Grant Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts General Bringham | Maus, Marcela Valderrama | CAR T cells targeting mesothelin and secreting bispecific antibodies targeting fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer | UG3CA283619 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Carreno, Beatriz M (contact); June, Carl H; Linette, Gerald P | Next generation T cell therapies for mutant KRAS solid tumors | UG3CA283652 |
| University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center | Yee, Cassian (contact); Morelli, Maria Pia; Rai, Kunal | HORMAD-specific TGF-beta resistant memory T cells for treatment of patients with Gastro-esophageal Cancer | UG3CA283615 |
| Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research | Adusumilli, Prasad S | CD28-KITv CAR T cells with PD-1 dominant negative receptor | UG3CA290241 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Powell, Daniel J (contact); Farwell, Michael David | Dual-targeted DOTA CAR T cells with image-guided monitoring for solid tumor treatment | UG3CA290451 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester | Geyer, Susan Michelle (contact); Asmann, Yan W | Cancer Adoptive Cell Therapy (Can-ACT) Network Coordinating Center at Mayo Clinic | U24CA283479 |
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