EWSR1 Immunotherapy in Ewing Sarcoma and DSRCT

July 6, 2026 updated by: Rabi Hanna

Precision Analysis of Fusion Genes in Ewing Sarcoma (ES) and Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT), Then EWSR1 (Ewing Sarcoma Gene Breakpoint Region 1 Gene) Immunotherapy Without or With Anti-CTLA-4 (Botensilimab) and Anti-PD1 (Balstilimab)

This study is for people who have high-risk Ewing sarcoma (ES), or a related Ewing's family tumor, desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT). The purpose of this study is to see if a new EWSR1 immunotherapy (a lipid nanoparticle coated with EWSR1 mRNA) which is given as a shot is safe and whether it can help the body's immune system better recognize and fight cancer.

This EWSR1 immunotherapy is designed to target a specific genetic change (EWSR1 fusion gene) that is found in cancer cells but not in normal, healthy cells. Because the EWSR1 gene is broken in cancer cells and the small protein it makes are only in the ES or DSRCT cancer cells, the goal of EWSR1 immunotherapy is to help the immune system identify and attack the cancer without harming normal cells. It is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

EWSR1 immunotherapy will be given as a shot into the muscle of the arm, leg, or buttock. If participants also receive botensilimab (4 doses after each EWSR1 immunotherapy shot) and balstilimab (an infusion every 2 weeks), these are given intravenously (IV) by a needle in the arm over 30 minutes. Participants in this study will receive treatment for about 6 months or until their cancer gets worse. Participants will remain in the study for follow-up for an additional year, for a total time of about 1.5 years in the study.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive type of cancer that has a high risk of spreading to other parts of the body. Even though it often responds well to chemotherapy and radiation at first, it still carries the risk of coming back and/or spreading. Children and young adults whose cancer is limited to one area generally have a better outlook with overall survival at about 75%. However, outcomes are much worse for adults and for people whose cancer has already spread, returned after treatment, or relapsed. In these groups, overall survival is only about 15-25%. People with relapsed or metastatic ES, who make up nearly half of all cases, still need better treatments than the current standard of care. More effective therapies are needed to achieve longer-lasting results.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare cancer that belongs to the Ewing family of tumors. It often spreads widely throughout the abdomen. Like Ewing sarcoma, DSRCT often responds to chemotherapy and radiation at first. However, even with standard of care treatment, long-term outcomes remain poor. Overall survival is only about 10-15%, and the cancer frequently returns in additional, outside areas. Because current treatments have had limited success, there is an urgent need to develop new targeted therapies that can more effectively treat these cancers.

Both ES and DSRCT are driven by recurrent, highly conserved gene fusion events that create neoantigens. Conventional therapies are often unable to target these gene events, and thus are unable to effectively treat the cause of the cancer. However, because these fusion events create proteins that are required for tumor survival and generate unique tumor-specific neoantigens that are absent from normal tissues, they represent highly attractive targets for immunotherapeutic approaches. Recent advances in immuno-oncology have highlighted the promise of tumor-specific neoantigens, particularly those arising from gene fusions, as targets for precision immunotherapy. Our group has been at the forefront of defining the importance of tumor mutations and neoantigens in cancer therapy.

The overall goal of this study in using EWSR1 immunotherapy without or with dual checkpoint inhibition is to develop cancer-specific long-lasting immunity against EWSR1 neoantigens. Adding anti-CTLA-4 plus anti-PD1 will be done because of concern that monotherapy may not overcome tumor inhibitory microenvironment (TIME) and T-cell exhaustion. Therefore, it is hypothesized that this combination will be safe because of the known safety profiles of other immunotherapy interventions with dual checkpoint inhibition.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

24

Phase

  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Peter M Anderson, MD, PhD
  • Phone Number: 216-407-8655
  • Email: andersp@ccf.org

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Rabi Hanna, MD
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Peter M Anderson, MD, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Matteo Trucco, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Timothy A Chan, MD, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must have histologically confirmed Ewing sarcoma (ES) or desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) and confirmation of fusion gene rearrangement and breakpoint EWSR1-FLI1, EWSR1-ERG, EWSR1-WT1, who have completed standard of care vincristine + doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide alternating with ifosfamide + etoposide (VDC/IE) and have relapsed or had metastatic disease or are very high-risk disease (Bosma groups C, D, E, and/or very poor necrosis after VDC/IE) are eligible. All EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy participants are expected to have completed standard of care VDC/IE chemotherapy with local control and have had end of therapy follow-up for > 3 months.
  • Participants must have demonstrated HLA (human leukocyte antigens) fit with an EWSR1 gene fusion peptide contained in the EWSR1 immunotherapy, as determined by HLA-binding analysis of peptides that span the EWSR1 fusion gene breakpoint and analysis of HLA fit to one of the constructs included in EWSR1 immunotherapy.
  • Participants may have no evidence of active disease, detectable disease (e.g., lung metastases < 1 cm or bone metastases), or measurable disease by iRECIST (Immune Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) criteria. The presence of RECIST measurable disease is not required for study entry.
  • At least 1 line of prior therapy (VDC/IE) is needed.
  • Age. The first 3 EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy and combination therapy participants will be adults ≥ 18 years old. After safety analysis of EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy in adults and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, adolescents (13-17 years old and 40kg or more are eligible for EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy. After safety analysis of EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy in adolescents and IRB approval, adolescents will be eligible for combination therapy and children ages 12 years old or younger will be eligible for EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy. Only after safety analysis of EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy will any group become eligible for combination therapy.

  • Participants must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:

    • absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1000/microliter (mcL)
    • platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
    • hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
    • total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (upper normal limits)
    • AST(aspartate aminotransferase) / ALT (alanine aminotransferase) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
    • creatinine ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or ≤ 1.5 mg/mcL if < 18 yrs
  • Participants on inhaled corticosteroids or maintenance doses of hydrocortisone are allowed (e.g., 20 mg in morning, 10 mg in evening in adult participants on chronic corticosteroids or history of adrenal insufficiency).
  • Participants with treated brain metastases are eligible after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy (surgery or radiotherapy). If on corticosteroids these participants should be weaned to hydrocortisone (20 mg am/10 mg pm if ≥ 40 kg or if < 40 kg (20-39.9 kg) hydrocortisone 10 mg am/5 mg pm).
  • Participants with leptomeningeal disease are eligible. If on corticosteroids these participants should be weaned to hydrocortisone (20 mg am/10mg pm if ≥ 40 kg or if < 40 kg hydrocortisone 10 mg am/5 mg pm).
  • Performance Karnofsky or Lansky Scale ≥ 60%
  • Participants with ES or DSRCT are eligible for planned radiotherapy before or during protocol therapy (e.g., to treat symptomatic lesions or bone metastases that are not "indicator lesions").
  • A washout period of 2 weeks from chemotherapy and return of any chemotherapy related or radiation adverse events (AEs) to grade 1 or to baseline prior to cancer treatment except lymphopenia is required.
  • The effects of EWSR1 immunotherapy on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control and/or abstinence for at least 90 days after last dose of EWSR1 immunotherapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document; minors must assent.
  • Women of childbearing potential to have negative pregnancy test within 7 days of EWSR1 immunotherapy dosing.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants on concurrent chemotherapy or other immunotherapy.
  • Participants who have not recovered from adverse events due to prior anti-cancer therapy (i.e., have residual toxicities ≥ Grade 2) with the exception of alopecia and lymphopenia, post-nadir neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, and decreased function that has achieved a "new and stable baseline" from cancer, surgery, or radiation.
  • Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.
  • Participants on total parenteral nutrition.
  • History of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to EWSR1 immunotherapy.
  • Participants with uncontrolled infection (e.g., on intravenous antibiotics or with symptoms of fever attributable to infection).
  • Pregnant women are excluded from this study because of the unknown effects of EWS immunotherapy, botensilimab and balstilimab and their potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects.
  • Participants who are unwilling or unable to comply with required study visits are ineligible.
  • Recent (< 2 weeks) vaccine use, active HIV/Hep B/C, or any current or prior medical condition or therapy that, in the opinion of the treating investigator, could confound the results of the trial or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate.
  • Any participant with congestive heart failure (as defined by New York Heart Association Functional Classification III or IV), unstable angina, serious uncontrolled heart arrythmia, a myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry, or a history of myocarditis.
  • Inadequate pulmonary function as defined by baseline pulse oximetry 92% or less on room air.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Monotherapy cohort
First, a safety cohort of participants will be enrolled in the study. Participants will receive EWSR1 immunotherapy on Weeks 0, 4, 12 and 24.
Drug: EWSR1 immunotherapy
Participants will receive EWSR1 immunotherapy at 50 micrograms (mcg) (or 25 mcg for children 12 years and younger) through an intramuscular injection on Weeks 0, 4, 12 and 24.
Experimental: Combination cohort
After safety is established through the monotherapy cohort, participants will be enrolled in the combination cohort. Participants will receive EWSR1 immunotherapy on Weeks 0, 4, 12 and 24. Participants will also receive Botensilimab (anti-CTLA-4) at on Weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24. Participants will also receive Balstilimab (anti-PD1) on Week 0 and then every 2 weeks for 6 months.
Drug: EWSR1 immunotherapy
Participants will receive EWSR1 immunotherapy at 50 micrograms (mcg) (or 25 mcg for children 12 years and younger) through an intramuscular injection on Weeks 0, 4, 12 and 24.
Drug: Botensilimab
Participants will receive Botensilimab (anti-CTLA-4) at 1 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) intravenously (through an IV) on Weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24.
Other Names:
  • anti-CTLA-4
Drug: Balstilimab
Participants will receive Balstilimab (anti-PD1) at 3 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) intravenously (through an IV) on Week 0 and then every 2 weeks for 6 months.
Other Names:
  • anti-PD1

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Safety of EWSR1 immunotherapy, measured by number of participants with grade 4 immunotherapy-related adverse events
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Safety will be achieved in the EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy cohort if no participant has grade 4 EWSR1 immunotherapy-related toxicity
Up to 6 months
Safety of combination therapy (EWSR1 immunotherapy + botensilimab + balstilimab), measured by number of participants with grade 3 drug related adverse events lasting greater than 1 week
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
In the combination therapy cohort (EWSR1 immunotherapy + botensilimab + balstilimab) cohort, safety will be achieved if participants without progression at 6 months have no grade 3 drug related AE lasting > 1 week
Up to 6 months
Feasibility of EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy, measured by proportion of participants who receive doses
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
Feasibility will be achieved in the EWSR1 immunotherapy monotherapy cohort if participants receive at least 3 of 4 proposed doses.
Up to 6 months
Feasibility of combination therapy (EWSR1 immunotherapy + botensilimab + balstilimab), measured by number of participants who receive at least 3 months of therapy
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
In the combination therapy cohort (EWSR1 immunotherapy + botensilimab + balstilimab) cohort, feasibility will be achieved if 12 participants receive at least 3 months of combination therapy.
Up to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progression free survival (PFS)
Time Frame: Up to 1.5 years
PFS will be assessed using iRECIST (Immunologic Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) criteria and is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of progression or death, whichever occurs first.
Up to 1.5 years
Overall survival (OS)
Time Frame: Up to 1.5 years
OS is defined as the time from start of treatment until death from any cause.
Up to 1.5 years
Tumor response, as measured by change in tumor volume
Time Frame: Baseline, month 6
Tumor responses will be determined comparing chest CT (Computed Tomography) and PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography) scans. Trends of lesion size will be depicted using waterfall and "spaghetti" plots showing and tumor volume differences over time.
Baseline, month 6

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Rabi Hanna

Collaborators

The Little Warriors Foundation

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Rabi Hanna, MD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute
  • Principal Investigator: Peter M Anderson, MD, PhD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute
  • Principal Investigator: Matteo Trucco, MD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute
  • Principal Investigator: Timothy A Chan, MD, PhD, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Center for Immunotherapy and Immuno-Oncology

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 6, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 6, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CASE1723

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

All side effects of each participant are to be documented in Epic and available Cleveland Clinic monitoring and FDA audit, if needed. For patients getting vaccine + dual checkpoint inhibition safety and efficacy data (without patient identifiers) will be shared with Agenus, supplier of the anti-CTLA4 and antiPD1 antibodies.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will be available in in a timely, proactive manner to allow monthly Cleveland Clinic study monitoring and also to be ready for any potential FDA audit

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

on site for Cleveland Clinic Monitoring

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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