Testing immune cells combined with cancer medication for advanced lung cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT05681780 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated March 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new approach to treating advanced lung cancer that has specific genetic mutations (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, or HER2). Researchers will take immune cells from your tumor, grow them in larger numbers in the lab, and then give them back to you along with , a medication that helps your immune system fight cancer. The goal is to see if this combination treatment can slow or stop the cancer's growth.

Many patients with these specific types of lung cancer eventually stop responding to standard targeted therapies. This trial is exploring whether boosting your own immune system with specially prepared cells, combined with , might work when other treatments have stopped working.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 18 years or older
you have been diagnosed with stage 4 or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer with a specific genetic change (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, or HER2)
your cancer has gotten worse even after receiving at least one previous treatment for lung cancer
your overall health is stable enough to handle the treatment (your doctor will assess this)
you have a tumor that doctors can safely remove a sample from to harvest immune cells

You likely don't qualify if…

you have untreated brain tumors or brain metastases that are growing (though stable or treated ones may be acceptable)
you have severely weakened organ function, particularly in your lungs, heart, liver, or kidneys
you have untreated HIV, hepatitis B, or untreated hepatitis C infections
you have very low blood cell counts or blood clotting problems that cannot be managed safely

What participation looks like

First, doctors will remove a small piece of tumor tissue to grow your immune cells in the laboratory—this takes several weeks. Once your cells are ready, you'll receive infusions, followed by chemotherapy to prepare your body, then an infusion of your grown immune cells along with additional immune-boosting medication. After that, you'll continue receiving infusions every 4 weeks for up to 12 months, with regular clinic visits to monitor your health and how well the treatment is working.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 12, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida