A Phase I/II Pilot Study Of Intranodal Delivery Of A Plasmid DNA (Synchrovax SEM Vaccine) In Stage IV Melanoma Patients
A Phase I/II Pilot Study Of Intranodal Delivery Of A Plasmid DNA (Synchrovax SEM Vaccine) In Stage IV Melanoma Patients
RATIONALE: Vaccines may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. Infusing the vaccine directly into a lymph node may cause a stronger immune response and kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of vaccine therapy in treating patients who have stage IV melanoma.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study.
Patients receive Synchrovax SEM plasmid DNA vaccine by continuous intranodal infusion on days 1-4. Treatment repeats every 14 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients with evidence of stable or responding disease are eligible for 4 additional courses of treatment.
Cohorts of 6 patients receive escalating doses of Synchrovax SEM plasmid DNA vaccine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which at least 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.
Patients are followed at 10 days after the last dose of study drug.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 6-18 patients will be accrued for this study.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Histologically confirmed stage IV melanoma
Must have tumor tissue available for determining antigen expression
HLA-A2 positive
No brain metastases unless completely resected or without evidence of disease after treatment
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age:
Performance status:
Life expectancy:
Hematopoietic:
Hepatic:
Renal:
Other:
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy:
Chemotherapy:
Endocrine therapy:
Radiotherapy:
Surgery:
Other:
Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States