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Clinical Trials of Cancer Vaccines

Abstracts taken from The National Cancer Institute website

Phase II Pilot Study of Cyclophosphamide and Active Intralymphatic Immunotherapy With a Vaccine Containing Interferon alfa or Interferon gamma-Treated Tumor Cells Followed By Sargramostim (GM-CSF) in Patients With Advanced Cancer

The objectives is to determine the safety and clinical effects of autologous or allogeneic active-specific intralymphatic immunotherapy with a vaccine containing interferon alfa or interferon gamma-treated tumor cells followed by sargramostim (GM-CSF) in patients with advanced cancer.

This is a pilot study. Patients are stratified by tumor type.

Tumor tissue is removed from the patient and incubated with interferon alfa or interferon gamma for 72-96 hours. (If autologous tumor cells are not available, an allogeneic vaccine is prepared.) Harvested activated cells are irradiated immediately prior to use.

Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV. 48-72 hours after cyclophosphamide administration, patients receive tumor cell vaccine intradermally. Patients also receive sargramostim (GM-CSF) subcutaneously prior to vaccine administration and once daily for the next 8 days. Treatment repeats every 2 weeks for 3 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients with responding or stable disease after completion of course 3 may receive additional courses.

Vaccine Therapy and GM-CSF in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, or Mesothelioma

Vaccines made from peptides may help the body build an effective immune response to kill cancer cells. Biological therapies, such as GM-CSF, may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop cancer cells from growing. Giving vaccine therapy together with GM-CSF may kill more cancer cells. This phase I trial is studying the side effects of vaccine therapy and GM-CSF in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, non-small cell lung cancer, or mesothelioma.

Further Study Information

This is a pilot study. Patients are stratified according to disease type (acute myeloid leukemia [AML] or myelodysplastic syndromes [MDS] vs non-small cell lung cancer or mesothelioma).

Patients receive vaccine comprising Wilms-tumor 1 (WT-1) analog peptide emulsified in Montanide ISA-51 subcutaneously (SC) once in weeks 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 and sargramostim (GM-CSF) SC twice in weeks 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 (on the day of and 2 days prior to each vaccination). Patients who have an immunologic response and have no disease progression may receive up to 6 more vaccinations approximately 1 month apart.

Blood samples are collected at baseline, week 8, and week 14. Samples are examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure levels of WT-1 and by T-cell proliferative response, delayed-type hypersensitivity against WT-1 peptides, or ELISPOT to measure immune response.

Bone marrow samples are collected from patients with AML or MDS at baseline and week 14. Samples are examined by PCR to measure levels of WT-1 and by multiparameter flow cytometry to measure residual disease.