National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health | www.cancer.gov

NCI Home
Cancer Topics
Clinical Trials
Cancer Statistics
Research & Funding
News
About NCI
Clinical Trials (PDQ®)
Patient Version   Health Professional Version
Last Modified: 12/22/2003     First Published: 8/1/2001  
Page Options
Print This Page
E-Mail This Document
Quick Links
Director's Corner

Dictionary of Cancer Terms

NCI Drug Dictionary

Funding Opportunities

NCI Publications

Advisory Boards and Groups

Science Serving People

Español
NCI Highlights
Maintenance Rituximab for Follicular Lymphoma

Azacitidine Improves Survival in MDS

Second Stem Cell Transplant Not Helpful in Myeloma
Phase I Study of Recombinant Vaccinia TRICOM Vaccine in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Alternate Title
Basic Trial Information
Objectives
Entry Criteria
Expected Enrollment
Outline
Trial Contact Information
Registry Information

Alternate Title

Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Basic Trial Information

PhaseTypeStatusAgeSponsorProtocol IDs
Phase ITreatmentClosedOver 18NCICPMC-IRB-14387
AECM-01-003, NCI-3353, NCT00022568, 3353

Objectives

  1. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of recombinant vaccinia-TRICOM vaccine in patients with metastatic melanoma.
  2. Determine the clinical toxic effects of this vaccine in these patients.
  3. Determine the safety of this vaccine in these patients.
  4. Determine the clinical response of these patients to this vaccine.
  5. Determine evidence of host anti-melanoma immune reactivity in these patients after treatment with this vaccine.

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Histologically confirmed metastatic non-resectable cutaneous, subcutaneous, or lymph node malignant melanoma


  • Lesion(s) must be accessible to percutaneous injection


  • Measurable lesion(s)
    • At least 1.0 cm


  • Previously treated brain metastases with no evidence of disease or edema on MRI or CT scan allowed
    • At least 6 weeks since prior definitive therapy (surgery or radiotherapy)


  • No untreated or edematous metastatic brain lesions or leptomeningeal disease


  • No ascites or pleural effusions


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy:

  • Prior vaccinia immunization required (e.g., smallpox vaccination)
  • More than 8 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
  • No prior therapy with live vaccinia virus vector

Chemotherapy:

  • More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

  • At least 4 weeks since prior systemic corticosteroids
  • No concurrent systemic corticosteroids
  • No concurrent steroids

Radiotherapy:

  • See Disease Characteristics
  • More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

  • See Disease Characteristics
  • More than 4 weeks since prior surgery for primary tumor or metastatic lesions and recovered

Other:

  • No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs

Patient Characteristics:

Age:

  • Over 18

Performance status:

  • ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

  • More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

  • WBC at least 3,000/mm3
  • Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
  • Absolute granulocyte count at least 3,000/mm3
  • Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic:

  • Direct bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
  • Transaminases no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN
  • No severe coagulation disorder with PT/PTT greater than 2 times normal (without anticoagulation medications)
  • No hepatic insufficiency
  • No alcoholic cirrhosis

Renal:

  • Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

    OR

  • Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
  • No renal insufficiency

Cardiovascular:

  • No congestive heart failure
  • No serious cardiac arrhythmias
  • No evidence of recent prior myocardial infarction on EKG
  • No clinical coronary artery disease

Pulmonary:

  • No chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Immunologic:

  • No prior eczema
  • HIV negative
  • No immunocompromising conditions, (e.g., active autoimmune disease, leukemia, lymphoma, skin diseases, or open wounds)
  • No clinical or laboratory evidence of an underlying immunosuppressive disorder
  • No active or chronic infections
  • No significant allergy or hypersensitivity to eggs

Other:

  • No active seizure disorders
  • No other malignancy within the past 2 years except stage I cervical cancer or basal cell skin cancer, provided the tumor has been successfully treated and patient is currently disease free
  • No evidence of bone marrow toxicity
  • No other concurrent medical illness that would preclude study
  • No other contraindications to vaccinia virus administration
  • No encephalitis
  • Must be able to avoid close contact with children under 3 years of age; pregnant women; individuals with prior or active eczema or other open skin conditions; or immunosuppressed individuals for 7-10 days after each vaccination
  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception

Expected Enrollment

A total of 12-18 patients will be accrued for this study within 6-12 months.

Outline

This is a dose-escalation study.

Patients receive recombinant vaccinia-TRICOM vaccine once every 4 weeks for a total of 3 vaccinations. Patients with stable or responding disease may receive an additional course of vaccinations.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of recombinant vaccinia-TRICOM vaccine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline, at each vaccine administration, and at study completion.

Patients are followed at 3 months.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center

Howard Kaufman, MD, Protocol chair(Contact information may not be current)
Ph: 212-342-6042
Email: hlk2003@columbia.edu

Registry Information
Official Title A Phase I Trial of Intra Lesional rV-Tricom Vaccine in the Treatment of Malignant Melanoma
Trial Start Date 2001-08-27
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00022568
Date Submitted to PDQ 2001-06-27
Information Last Verified 2003-12-08
NCI Grant/Contract Number P30-CA13696

Note: The purpose of most clinical trials listed in this database is to test new cancer treatments, or new methods of diagnosing, screening, or preventing cancer. Because all potentially harmful side effects are not known before a trial is conducted, dose and schedule modifications may be required for participants if they develop side effects from the treatment or test. The therapy or test described in this clinical trial is intended for use by clinical oncologists in carefully structured settings, and may not prove to be more effective than standard treatment. A responsible investigator associated with this clinical trial should be consulted before using this protocol.

Back to Top

A Service of the National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov