Therapeutic vaccination with an autologous mRNA electroporated dendritic cell vaccine in patients with advanced melanoma

J Immunother. 2011 Jun;34(5):448-56. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e31821dcb31.

Abstract

The immunostimulatory capacity of dendritic cells is improved by co-electroporation with mRNA encoding CD40 ligand, constitutively active toll-like receptor 4, and CD70 (TriMix-DC). This pilot clinical trial evaluated the feasibility, safety, and immunogenicity of a therapeutic vaccination containing autologous TriMix-DC co-electroporated with mRNA encoding a human leukocyte antigen class II-targeting signal linked to 1 of 4 melanoma-associated antigens (MAGE-A3, MAGE-C2, tyrosinase, and gp100) in patients with advanced melanoma. Thirty-five American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III/IV melanoma patients received autologous TriMix-DC (4 administrations 2 weeks apart). Immune monitoring was performed by evaluating skin biopsies of delayed type IV hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions for presence of vaccinal antigen-specific DTH-infiltrating lymphocytes (DIL). Thereafter, patients could receive interferon-alpha-2b (IFN-α-2b) 5 MU subcutaneously 3 times weekly and additional TriMix-DC every 8 weeks. TriMix-DC-related adverse events comprised grade 2 local injection site reactions (all patients), and grade 2 fever and lethargy (2 patients). Vaccinal antigen-specific DIL were found in 0/6 patients tested at vaccine initiation and in 12/21 (57.1%) assessed after the fourth vaccine. A positive postvaccination DTH test correlated with IL-12p70 secretion capacity of TriMix-DC. No objective responses to TriMix-DC alone were seen according to RECIST. Twenty-nine patients received IFN-α-2b after the fourth vaccine without unexpected adverse events. During TriMix-DC/IFN-α-2b combination therapy, 1 partial response and 5 stable disease (disease control of >6 months with regression of metastases) were observed in 17 patients with evaluable disease at baseline. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that therapeutic vaccination with autologous TriMix-DC is feasible, safe, and immunogenic and can be combined with sequential IFN-α-2b.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • CD27 Ligand / immunology
  • CD27 Ligand / metabolism
  • CD40 Antigens / immunology
  • CD40 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / methods*
  • Electroporation
  • Female
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Melanoma*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • RNA, Messenger / immunology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / mortality
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CD27 Ligand
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4