Toll-like Receptor (TLR) Ligand Matured Dendritic Cell Vaccination in Melanoma Patients
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Purpose
click on markers to display additional informationObjectives:
This is an exploratory study, consisting of two parts. In part I a dose escalation is performed and the primary objective is the safety of different doses of TLR-dendritic cell (TLR-DC). In part II TLR-DC vaccination will be compared with cytokine-matured DC vaccination and the primary objective of this part is the immunological response to TLR-DC vaccination, with toxicity and clinical efficacy being secondary objectives. These studies will provide important data on the safety and immunological effects of TLR-matured DC.
Study design:
This study is an open label prospective exploratory intervention study.
Study population:
The investigators' study population consists of HLA-A2.1 positive melanoma patients, with proven expression of melanoma associated tumor antigens gp100 and tyrosinase. Melanoma patients with regional lymph node metastasis in whom a radical lymph node dissection is planned or performed within 2 months of inclusion in this study (further referred to as stage III) and melanoma patients with measurable distant metastases (further referred to as stage IV) will be included.
status: recruiting conditions: Melanoma interventions: autologous dendritic cell vaccination phase: Phase 1/Phase 2 study type: Interventional study design: Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Single Group Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study official title: TLR Ligand Matured Dendritic Cell Vaccination in Melanoma Patients: the Key Towards a More Potent Immune Induction? -
Further study details (as provided by Radboud University)
primary outcome measures:
secondary outcome measures:
- vaccination related toxicity and clinical efficacy (progression free survival) [ Time Frame: 5 years ]
enrollment: 45
study start date: June 2009
study completion date: June 2015
Arms Assigned Interventions cytokine matured DC: Active Comparator
autologous dendritic cells matured with standard cytokine cocktail and electroporated with mRNA encoding tumor associated antigens
Biological: autologous dendritic cell vaccination
Autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells electroporated with mRNA encoding gp100 and tyrosinase and matured with either cytokines or TLR ligands. Dendritic cells are vaccinated intradermal/intravenously 3 times with biweekly intervals every 6 months, if no signs of progression, for a total of 9 vaccinations.
TLR ligand matured DC: Experimental
autologous TLR-ligand matured dendritic cells electroporated with mRNA encoding tumor associated antigens
Biological: autologous dendritic cell vaccination
Autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells electroporated with mRNA encoding gp100 and tyrosinase and matured with either cytokines or TLR ligands. Dendritic cells are vaccinated intradermal/intravenously 3 times with biweekly intervals every 6 months, if no signs of progression, for a total of 9 vaccinations.
Detailed description
1. Rationale
Immunotherapy applying ex vivo generated and tumor-antigen-loaded dendritic cells (DC) has now successfully been introduced in the clinic. A limited, but consistent, number of objective immunological and clinical responses have been observed. Thus far it remains unclear why some patients respond and others not, but there is a general consensus that the current protocols applied to generate DC may not result in the induction of optimal Th1 responses. We and others have demonstrated that DC maturation is one of the crucial factors, not only for effective DC migration but also to induce effective anti-tumor immune responses in cancer patients. Currently, the "golden standard" used to mature DC consists of a cocktail of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Recent mouse data demonstrated, however, that maturation of DC by solely pro-inflammatory cytokines yielded DC that supported T cell clonal expansion, but failed to efficiently direct effector T cell differentiation. Interestingly, DC matured in the presence of Toll like receptor (TLR) ligands were able to induce full T cell effector function and unleashed more potent immune responses. We recently identified vaccines against infectious diseases that contain TLR ligands and are capable of inducing DC maturation. This knowledge provides a new application for these clinical applicable agents: clinical grade DC stimulators.
A clinical grade DC maturation protocol is developed in which TLR ligands (preventive vaccines) and PGE2 are combined which resulted in the generation of mature DC that secrete high levels of the key cytokine IL-12. Moreover, these TLR-ligand matured DC induced T cells secreting at least 20-fold higher levels of the effector cytokines IFNalpha and TNFalpha as compared to DC matured in the absence of TLR ligands. In conclusion, these in vitro data demonstrate that TLR-ligand matured DC are promising candidates to improve immunological and clinical responses in cancer immunotherapy.
2. Objectives
This is an exploratory study, consisting of two parts. In part I a dose escalation is performed and the primary objective is the safety of different doses of TLR-DC. In part II TLR-DC vaccination will be compared with cytokine-matured DC vaccination and the primary objective of this part is the immunological response to TLR-DC vaccination, with toxicity and clinical efficacy being secondary objectives. These studies will provide important data on the safety and immunological effects of TLR-matured DC.
3. Study design
This study is an open label prospective exploratory intervention study.
4. Study population
Our study population consists of HLA-A2.1 positive melanoma patients, with proven expression of melanoma associated tumor antigens gp100 and tyrosinase. Melanoma patients with regional lymph node metastasis in whom a radical lymph node dissection is planned or performed within 2 months of inclusion in this study (further referred to as stage III) and melanoma patients with measurable distant metastases (further referred to as stage IV) will be included.
5. Main study endpoints
The primary objectives of the study are to investigate the toxicity of TLR-DC by dose escalation of DC numbers in part I, and to investigate immunological responses upon TLR-DC vaccination in part II of the study.
Immunological responses are:
1. The migratory capacity of the TLR-ligand matured DC in vivo.
2. The activation of immune cells in vivo.
3. The immunological response induced with TLR-ligand matured DC loaded with mRNA encoding
melanoma-associated tumor antigens (gp100 and tyrosinase). Safety and clinical efficacy are secondary objectives.
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Eligibility
ages eligible for study: 18 Years to 70 Years genders eligible for study: Both Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
All patients:
- histologically documented evidence of melanoma
- stage III or IV melanoma according to the 2001 AJCC criteria
- HLA-A2.1 phenotype melanoma expressing gp100 (compulsory) and tyrosinase (non- compulsory)
- WHO performance status 0-1 (Karnofsky 100-70)
- life expectancy > 3 months
- age 18-70 years
- no clinical signs or symptoms of CNS metastases
- WBC > 3.0x109/l, lymphocytes > 0.8x109/l, platelets > 100x109/l, serum creatinine < 150 µmol/l, serum bilirubin < 25 µmol/l
- normal serum LDH (< 450 U/l)
- expected adequacy of follow-up
- no pregnant or lactating women
- written informed consent
- stage III melanoma: radical regional lymphnode dissection is planned or performed
- stage IV melanoma: at least one unidimensional measurable target lesions according to RECIST, not previously irradiated, and no significant symptoms of disease requiring other palliative treatments
Exclusion Criteria:
- prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy < 4 weeks prior to planned vaccination or presence of treatment-related toxicity
- history of any second malignancy in the previous 5 years, with the exception of adequately treated basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix serious active infections, HbsAg or HIV positive or autoimmune diseases or organ allografts
- concomitant use of immunosuppressive drugs
- known allergy to shell fish (since it contains KLH)
- rapidly progressive disease
- any serious clinical condition that may interfere with the safe administration of DC
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Contacts and locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00940004
Contacts
C.J.A. Punt, prof.dr. +31 24 361 0353 C.Punt@onco.umcn.nl Locations
Netherlands , Gelderland - Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
status: recruiting facility: Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands, 6500HB contact: C.J.A. Punt, prof.dr. +31 24 361 0353 C.Punt@onco.umcn.nl contact: I.J.M. de Vries, dr. +31 24 361 0556 J.deVries@ncmls.ru.nl Principal Investigator: C.J.A. Punt, prof.dr.
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Sponsors and collaborators
Radboud University
investigators: C.J.A. Punt, prof.dr., Principal Investigator, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, dept of Medical Oncology
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More information
home page Department of Medical Oncology
home page of Department of Tumor Immunology
first received: June 25, 2009 last updated: July 14, 2009 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00940004 health authority: Netherlands: The Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO)
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on September 25, 2009 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
