OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine the efficacy of photochemically-treated autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell vaccine in generating an EBV-specific T-cell and antibody response in EBV-negative patients or in boosting the response in EBV-positive patients who are being considered for a solid organ transplant and are at high risk for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.
• Determine adverse events associated with this vaccine in these patients.
• Determine the ability of the vaccine to protect from EBV primary infection in EBV-seronegative patients during the time course of the study.

OUTLINE: This is a nonrandomized, pilot study. Patients are stratified according to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status (seropositive vs seronegative).

Patients receive photochemically-treated autologous EBV-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell vaccine intradermally once in weeks 0 and 4.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for up to 5 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 40 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Being considered for a solid organ transplant
• At high risk for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Body weight ≥ 25 kg
• Karnofsky performance status 50-100% OR
• Lansky performance status 50-100%
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use contraception during and for 2 months after completion of study treatment
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (erythropoietin allowed)

• No history of autoimmune disease, including any of the following:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Vasculitis
• No primary immunodeficiency
• No HIV positivity

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No corticosteroids for 1 month before and for 1 month after the first study vaccination, except for the following:

  • Physiologic steroid dosing (≤ 20 mg/day of prednisone or steroid equivalent) for adrenal insufficiency
  • Inhaled steroids