Pilot Immunotherapy Study of Combination Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and T-cell receptor γ alternate reading frame protein (TARP) Peptide With Poly IC-LC Adjuvant in Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA)-A2 (+) Patients With Elevated prostatic specific antigen (PSA) After Initial Definitive Treatment

The purpose of the study is to see if the PSMA/TARP proteins in the vaccine, along with the Hiltonol, can arouse and train the immune system to kill the prostate cancer cells. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. males. It is curable when it is confined to the prostate (kept from spreading) using surgery or radiation treatments. In some patients the cancer can come back after these treatments. Treatment options for prostate cancer that comes back include procedures or medications which may have significant risks and side effects. Another plan is being looked at that uses the body's immune system to attack prostate cancer cells. A vaccine has been developed that has proteins found in prostate cancer cells. One of the proteins is called PSMA and the other is called TARP. In addition to these proteins, another substance called Poly IC-LC (Hiltonol) will be added to the vaccine to boost its ability to start the immune system.

Detailed Objectives:

1. Estimate the frequency of immunological efficacy of the vaccine by comparison of the in vitro enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) test results, for each antigen (PSMA, TARP) from peripheral blood specimens collected during the periods of time defined as "before", "during" and "after" vaccination.
2. Study the safety and toxicity of varying doses of polypeptide vaccines: PSMA27-35-PSMA687-701 (VLAGGFFLLYRHVIYAPSSHNKYA) and TARP13-35 (LQLLKQSSRRLEHTFMFLRNFSL) administered with a fixed dose of Poly IC-LC (2 mg total/treatment) as adjuvant.
3. Describe the impact of the vaccine on the pattern of PSA change in 2 subsets of patients: with castrate testosterone; with non-suppressed testosterone level/not on hormone therapy.
4. Identify if there is a basis for selection of a dose of the PSMA and the TARP polypeptide vaccines for future phase II development of this vaccination strategy, considering the dose range tested.

Inclusion Criteria:

• History of histologically confirmed prostate cancer.

• Competence to understand the patient information and provide written informed consent, and willingness and ability to return to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center for planned treatments and follow-up.

• Absence of evidence of metastatic disease by current physical exam or by current imaging studies (computed tomography [CT] or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] pelvis, and bone scan within 60 days of first treatment).

• Patients not on hormone therapy (stratum "N") must meet all of these:

  1. At least 1 year after prostatectomy, definitive prostate radiation, or other definitive-intent local therapy.
  2. No testosterone suppression therapy for at least 6 months.
  3. PSA at least 1 ng/ml, on 2 measurements, at least 2 weeks apart.
  4. Testosterone level >100 ng/ml, at start ("noncastrate").

• Patients on hormone therapy (stratum "Y") must meet all of these:

  1. On treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (or orchiectomy) at least 6 months.
  2. testosterone level <50 ng/ml, at start.
  3. PSA at least 1 ng/ml, on 2 measurements, at least 2 weeks apart.

• Laboratory values obtained 0-14 days prior to start of therapy:

  1. White blood count (WBC) over 3,500/micro L.
  2. Platelet count over 100,000 micro L.
  3. Hemoglobin over 10.0 g/dL.
  4. Serum creatinine up to 2.0 mg/dL.
  5. Alkaline phosphatase up to 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN).
  6. Aspartic transaminase (AST) up to 2.5 x ULN.

• Life expectancy at least 6 months.

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0 or 1.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known standard therapy for the patient's disease that is potentially curative.
• A known immunodeficiency including HIV. Appropriate trials for individuals with HIV may be considered at a later date.
• History of other malignancy besides prostate cancer in the last 5 years, except non-melanoma skin cancer treated with local resection only. (The effect of study treatment on other, potentially dormant malignant diseases is not known).
• Use of oral or inhaled or parenteral corticosteroids or of other immunomodulatory drugs within the 60 days of start. [Use of steroids after start will be considered by the principal investigator (PI) on a case-by-case basis.]
• Use of estrogens (including herbal phytoestrogens) or ketoconazole within 30 days of start, or during the study.
• Failure to fully recover to grade 1 or better from effects of prior chemotherapy regardless of interval since last treatment.
• Other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or investigational agent in last 30 days (one month washout to start of treatment; patients could register but not start until the washout).
• Known hypersensitivity to one or more components of the study medication.
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.