Antiangiogenic Peptide Vaccine Therapy With Gemcitabine in Treating Patient With Pancreatic Cancer

Phase I Sturdy on Antiangiogenic Vaccine Therapy Using Epitope Peptide Derived From VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 With Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Unresectable, Recurrent, or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, and tolerability of HLA-A*2402 restricted epitope peptide VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 emulsified with Montanide ISA 51 in combination with gemcitabine

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2 (VEGFR1 andVEGFR2) are essential targets to tumor angiogenesis, and we identified that peptides derived from these receptors significantly induce the effective tumor specific CTL response in vitro and in vivo. According to these findings, in this trial, we evaluate the safety, tolerability and immune response of these peptide emulsified with Montanide ISA 51 in combination with gemcitabine

Inclusion Criteria:

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS

1. Locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer precluding curative surgical resection and recurrent pancreatic cancer 2. Measurable disease by CT scan PATIENTS CHARACTERISTICS

1. ECOG performance status 0-2
2. Life expectancy > 3 months
3. Laboratory values as follows 2,000/mm3 < WBC < 15000/mm3 Platelet count ≥ 750,000/mm³ Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x Aspartate transaminase < 150 IU/L Alanine transaminase < 150 IU/L Creatinine ≤ 3.0 mg/dl
4. HLA-A*2402
5. Able and willing to give valid written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnancy (women of childbearing potential: Refusal or inability to use effective means of contraception)
2. Breast-feeder
3. Active or uncontrolled infection
4. Prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy within 4 weeks
5. Serious or aggravated wound
6. Active or uncontrolled other malignancy
7. Steroids or immunosuppressing agent dependant status
8. Interstitial pneumonia
9. Ileus
10. Decision of unsuitableness by principal investigator or physician-in-charge