Phase I Trial of Adoptive Immunotherapy for Stage III and IV Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Phase I This is a trial of adoptive immunotherapy as treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, stage 2, 3 and 4. Who is it for? You can join this study if you have cancer of the nasopharynx (an area in the back of the nose toward the base of skull) (NPC), stage 2, 3 and 4. Trial details Blood cells are taken from participants who's tumour tissue is Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) positive. T-cells are isolated from the blood and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL's) are grown in the laboratory, in the presence of an EBV latent membrane protein and used for ‘adoptive immunotherapy’ – a treatment used for cancer in which an individual's own white blood cells are coupled with a naturally produced growth factor to enhance their cancer-fighting capacity. Some 20–200 million cytotoxic T lymphocytes will be injected into the patient at 2 week intervals (minimum of three and up to six infusions). The study aims to look at the tolerability and safety of treatment, changes in blood immune results measured at intervals, and tumour response. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are standard palliative treatments for people with advanced NPC. This trial assesses the safety and toxicity of adoptive immunotherapy in people with EBV positive tumours.