NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 08-C-0051

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
A Pilot Trial of WT1 Peptide-Loaded Allogeneic Dendritic Cell Vaccine and Donor Lymphocyte Infusion for WT1-Expressing Hematologic Malignancies
Number:
08-C-0051
Summary:
Background:

-Most patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and many patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) have a protein called Wilm's Tumor 1 (WT1) in their cancer cells. This protein is thought to be able to influence the growth of these cancers.

-A vaccine made with the WT1 protein may boost the immune system to help fight these cancers in patients whose cancer cells contain the protein.

Objectives:

-To determine the safety, effectiveness and side effects of giving the WT1 vaccine and donor white blood cells to patients with AML, ALL, CML or NHL who have previously received standard treatment and undergone stem cell transplantation.

-To determine the immune response to the WT1 vaccine and donor white blood cells in these patients and to determine if the response is related to the amount of WT1 protein in the patient's cancer cells.

Eligibility:

-Patients between 1 and 75 years of age with the blood antigen HLA-A2 and the WT1 cancer protein who have persistent or recurrent blood cancers after stem cell transplantation.

-The prior stem cell transplant donor must be willing to provide additional cells, which will be used to prepare the cellular vaccines and for donor lymphocyte (white blood cell) infusions.

Design:

-Patients are given the WT1 vaccine every 2 weeks for 6 weeks (weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10). Each vaccination consists of two injections in the upper arm or thigh.

-On weeks 0, 4 and 8, patients also receive white blood cells from a donor to enhance the immune response. The cells are also given as a 15- to 30-minute infusion through a vein about 1 hour after the vaccine injection. Donor infusions are given only to patients with mild or no graft-vs-host disease resulting from their prior stem cell transplantation.

-Periodic physical examinations, blood and urine tests, scans to evaluate disease and other tests as needed are done for 12 months after enrollment in the study.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled
Gender: Male & Female
Referral Letter Required: No
Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Inclusion Criteria: Patient (i.e., transplant recipient)

Age greater than 1 year and less than 75 years.

One of the following WT1-expressing hematologic malignancies:

1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), less than or equal to 25 percent marrow blasts.

2. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), less than or equal to 25 percent marrow blasts.

3. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

- Chronic phase, recurrent after or resistant to DLI or resistant to available abl kinase inhibitors

- Accelerated phase, less than 20 percent marrow blasts

- Blastic phase, less than or equal to 25 percent marrow blasts

4. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), less than 20 percent marrow blasts.

5. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), stage 4, less than or equal to 25 percent marrow blasts.

6. There will be no restriction on the volume of extramedullary disease, with the exceptions of exclusions for central nervous system involvement (Section 2.3.3) or progression deemed unacceptably rapid (Section 2.3.4).

WT1 expression will be confirmed by at least one of the following criteria (Sections 3.8.2.1 and 3.8.2.2):

- Greater than 15 percent of malignant cells react with anti-WT1 by immunohistochemistry.

- Positive quantitative RT-PCR of WT1 compared with a negative control.

HLA-A2 plus (heterozygous expression is acceptable).

Prior SCT: Prior HLA-matched (5-6/6 antigen or 8-10/10 allele) related or unrelated allogeneic SCT required. Must be at least 42 days post-transplant, have had recovery of transplant-associated toxicity to less than grade 2, and have post-transplant donor engraftment as defined by donor chimerism greater than 50 percent (peripheral blood), neutrophil recovery to an ANC greater than 500/microl independent of myeloid growth factors, and platelet recovery to greater than 20,000/microL independent of transfusion.

Disease status: Post-transplant residual or relapsed disease. Minimal residual disease (MRD) by PCR or flow cytometry is acceptable in accordance with standard disease-specific diagnostic criteria.

Availability of previous allogeneic donor to donate cells again.

Prior therapy: Disease-specific therapy must be stopped at least 14 days prior to protocol Cycle 1 Day 1 (C1D1) and recovery of treatment-associated toxicity to greater than grade 2 is required prior to initiation of protocol therapy. Patients may have received prior DLI, but the last dose must be at least 28 days prior to C1D1 and there must be no active GVHD greater than grade 1 acute or extensive chronic. Systemic immunosuppression must be stopped at least 28 days prior to protocol C1D1 and there must be no active GVHD greater than grade 1 acute or extensive chronic. There is no time restriction in regard to prior intrathecal chemotherapy provided there is complete recovery from any acute toxic effects of such. Patients receiving hydroxyurea are allowed.

Performance status of 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Renal function: Patients must have a serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 times the upper limit of normal based on age- specific normal range OR a creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2).

Hepatic function: Patients must have a total bilirubin less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dl and ALT less than or equal to 5times the upper limit of normal based on age- specific normal ranges.

Ability to give informed consent. For patients less than 18 years of age, their legal guardian must give informed consent. Pediatric patients will be included in age appropriate discussion in order to obtain verbal assent.

Recipients of unrelated donor transplants must sign a release of information form to authorize NMDP transfer of information to the NIH.

Subjects of childbearing or child-fathering potential must be willing to use a medically acceptable form of birth control, which includes abstinence, while they are being treated on this study.

Inclusion Criteria: Donor

Weight greater than or equal to 18 kg, and for unrelated donors only age greater than or equal to 18 years

Previous HLA-matched related or unrelated allogeneic donor. Donors must be 5-6/6 antigen or 8-10/10 allele matched.

HLA-A2 plus (heterozygous expression is acceptable).

Adequate venous access for peripheral apheresis, or consent to use a temporary central venous catheter for apheresis.

Donor selection will be in accordance with NIH/CC Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) criteria and, in the case of an unrelated donor, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) standards. When a potentially eligible recipient of an unrelated donor product is identified, the recipient will complete an NMDP search transfer request to allow NIH NMDP staff to contact the NMDP Coordinating Center, who will, in turn, contact the donor's prior Donor Center. The NMDP Policy for Subsequent Donation Requests will be followed and the appropriate forms (Subsequent Donation Request form and Therapeutic T Cell Collection Prescription will be submitted as required.

Ability to give informed consent. For donors less than 18 years of age, their legal guardian must give informed consent. Pediatric donors must give verbal assent and be cleared by social work and a mental health specialist to participate.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Exclusion Criteria: Patient

Active GVHD greater than grade 1 acute or extensive chronic.

Breast feeding or pregnant females (due to risk to fetus or newborn).

Central nervous system (CNS) malignancy by any of the following criteria:

- Demonstration of malignant cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with leukemia or MDS as manifested by CSF WBC greater than 5/microl and confirmation of CSF blasts.

- Cranial neuropathies deemed secondary to the underlying malignancy.

- CNS mass lesions deemed secondary to the underlying malignancy.

NB: History of CNS involvement without current evidence of CNS malignancy is NOT an exclusion.

Rapidly progressive malignancy and/or clinically significant systemic illness (e.g., severe unstable infections or organ dysfunction) that in the judgment of the PI would likely compromise the patient's ability to tolerate this therapy or interfere with the study procedures, including but not limited to a life expectancy of less than 3 months.

High risk of inability to comply with protocol requirements as determined by principal investigator, social work, and primary team.

HIV infection or HTLV-1 infection (due to associated immune suppression and decreased likelihood of developing an immune response to the vaccine and increased risk of severe infection).

Active hepatitis B or C infection as defined by seropositive for hepatitis B (HbSAg) or hepatitis C and elevated liver transaminases.

Patients who require systemic corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressive therapy must be stopped at least 28 days prior to protocol C1D1. Topical agents and/or inhaled corticosteroids are permitted.

Exclusion Criteria: Donor

History of medical illness that in the estimation of the PI or DTM/NMDP physician poses prohibitive risk to donation.

Anemia (Hb less than 10 gm/dl) or thrombocytopenia (less than 100,000/microliter).

Breast feeding or pregnant females (due to risk to fetus or newborn).

High risk of inability to comply with protocol requirements as determined by the principal investigator and donor center team.

Positive screening test for transfusion-transmissible infection in accordance with DTM or NMDP donation standards.

Kaposi's sarcoma.

Special Instructions:
Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
WT1 Peptide Dendritic Cell Vaccine
Hematologic Malignancies
Relapse After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
Donor Lymphocyte Infusions
WT1-Positive
Dendritic Cell Vaccine
Tumor Immunotherapy
Allogeneic Adopitive Immunotherapy
Recruitment Keyword(s):
Leukemia
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
AML
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
ALL
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
CML
Myelodysplasia Syndrome
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Condition(s):
Leukemia, Acute Myelogenous (AML)
Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic (ALL)
Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous (CML)
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
Investigational Drug(s):
WT1 Peptide-Pulsed Dendritic Cells
Donor Lymphocytes
IL-4
KLH
WT1 Peptides
Endotoxin
Investigational Device(s):
None
Intervention(s):
Drug: WT1 Peptide-Pulsed Dendritic Cells
Drug: Donor Lymphocytes
Drug: IL-4
Drug: KLH
Drug: WT1 Peptides
Drug: Endotoxin
Supporting Site:
National Cancer Institute

Contact(s):
NCI Referral Office
National Institute of Health Clinical Center (CC), 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States: NCI Clinical Trials Referral Office
Phone: 1-888-NCI-1937
Fax: Not Listed
Electronic Address: ncicssc@mail.nih.gov

Citation(s):
Appelbaum FR.Graft versus leukemia (GVL) in the therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Leukemia. 1997 May;11 Suppl 4:S15-7.

Sullivan KM, Weiden PL, Storb R, Witherspoon RP, Fefer A, Fisher L, Buckner CD, Anasetti C, Appelbaum FR, Badger C, et al.Influence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease on relapse and survival after bone marrow transplantation from HLA-identical siblings as treatment of acute and chronic leukemia.Blood. 1989 May 1;73(6):1720-8. Erratum in: Blood 1989 Aug 15;74(3):1180.

Horowitz MM, Gale RP, Sondel PM, Goldman JM, Kersey J, Kolb HJ, Rimm AA, RingdŽn O, Rozman C, Speck B, et al.Graft-versus-leukemia reactions after bone marrow transplantation.Blood. 1990 Feb 1;75(3):555-62.

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

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