The purpose of this research study is to test a tumor (cancer) vaccine given along with
chemotherapy to determine if this vaccine will increase the chances of the tumor shrinking
and/or the amount of time that people who have this disease will live.
Inclusion Criteria at the time of initial registration:
- Patients must have a histological confirmed diagnosis of Small Cell Lung Cancer
(SCLC)
- Must have extensive stage SCLC
- Must have completed first line chemotherapy: 4-6 cycles of a standard
platinum/etoposide regimen and PCI if chosen at the discretion of the treating
Oncologist
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2
- Acceptable (adequate) organ function including:
- White blood count (WBC) >2,500/mm³ and Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
>1,200/mm³
- Platelets > 75,000/mm³
- Hematocrit > 24% OR Hemoglobin ≥8. 5g/dl
- Bilirubin < 2. 0 mg/dl
- Creatinine < 2. 0 mg/dl
- Aspartic transaminase (AST/SGOT) ≤2 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
- Alkaline phosphatase ≤3 x ULN
- Patients must have achieved responsive or non-progressive disease status (stable
disease [SD], partial response [PR], or complete response [CR]) assessed 4-6 weeks
after the last cycle of first line chemotherapy. SD, PR or CR may be confirmed after
completion of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) at the discretion of the
principal investigator (PI) after discussion with the treating oncologist.
- Males and Females of reproductive potential must agree to use effective contraception
during the study and for at least 4 weeks after the last dose of ATRA. Patients are
instructed and agree to notify the principal investigator should a pregnancy occur
for themselves or their partner.
- Willing and able to sign written informed consent and be able to comply with the
study protocol for the duration of the study
Exclusion Criteria at the time of initial registration:
- Patients with severe, uncontrolled intercurrent illness or infection
- Anticipated requirement for systemic chronic steroid use at the time of vaccination,
unless specifically indicated for dose supplementation or replacement of established
corticosteroid insufficiency
- Receiving systemic doses of corticosteroids should have them discontinued ≥ 2 weeks
prior to starting vaccination (this include patients receiving steroids with PCI).
Inhaled steroids should also be discontinued if at all possible. Chronic, stable
doses of inhaled steroids for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), etc. are allowed if in the opinion of the treating physician(s) they cannot
be stopped.
- Any pre-existing immunodeficiency condition, or a known history of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
- Uncontrolled and/or symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastasis
- Pregnant or lactating women. A pregnancy test-serum Beta human chorionic gonadotropin
(bHCG) will be obtained during the screening process.
- Have received any chemotherapy other than the first line chemotherapy specified in
the study protocol: standard platinum/etoposide regimen
- Have received any prior investigational drugs including immunotherapy, gene therapy,
hormone therapy, biologic therapy for treatment of SCLC
- Any known pre-existing autoimmune disorder
- History of a second malignancy within the previous 3 years. Exceptions include:
non-melanoma skin cancers, any in-situ carcinomas and successfully treated early
stage malignancies without evidence of recurrence for > 18 months.
- Have not recovered from any chemotherapy-related or other therapy-related toxicity at
study entry
- Have had major surgery without full recovery or major surgery within 3 weeks of the
start of vaccine treatment
- Patients with other significant diseases or disorders that, in the Investigator's
opinion, would exclude them from the study
Pre-Pheresis Criteria:
- Patients must have had a successful harvest of peripheral blood mononuclear cell
(PBMC) with leukopheresis at least 6-10 weeks after chemotherapy.
- ECOG performance status of 0-2
- The last dose of first line chemotherapy must have been administered at least 4 weeks
prior to the first vaccine administration.
- Patients who received radiation therapy: last dose of radiation must have been
completed at least 2 weeks prior to the first vaccine administration and the patient
must have recovered from the toxic effects of the treatment prior to study enrollment
(except for alopecia)
- Patients who received steroid therapy: last steroid dose must have been given at
least 2 weeks prior to the first vaccine administration
- Adequate organ function:
- WBC > 2,500/mm³ and ANC >1,200/mm³
- Platelets > 75,000/mm³
- Hematocrit > 25%
- Hemoglobin ≥9g/dl
- Bilirubin < 2. 0 mg/dl
- Creatinine < 2. 0 mg/dL
- AST/SGOT ≤ 2 x ULN
- Alkaline phosphatase < 3 x ULN
- Patients must have signed informed consent at initial registration.
- HLA-A*0201 Testing as determined by flow cytometry followed by molecular analysis of
a peripheral blood specimen, however this result will not be an inclusion criterion
Pre-Paclitaxel Eligibility:
- Progressive disease after observation (Arm A) or vaccinations (Arms B and C)
- ECOG performance status of 0-2
- Adequate organ function:
- WBC > 2,500/mm³ and ANC >1,200/mm³
- Platelets > 75,000/mm³
- Hematocrit > 25%
- Hemoglobin ≥9g/dl
- Bilirubin < 2. 0 mg/dl
- Creatinine < 2. 0 mg/dL
- AST/SGOT ≤ 2 x ULN
- Alkaline phosphatase < 3 x ULN
