NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 03-C-0176

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
A Phase I/II Pilot Study of Sequential Vaccinations with rFowlpox-PSA (L155)-TRICOM (PROSTVAC-F/TRICOM) Alone, or in Combination with rVaccinia-PSA (L155)-TRICOM (PROSTVAC-V/TRICOM), and the Role of GM-CSF, in Patients with Prostate Cancer
Number:
03-C-0176
Summary:
This study will evaluate, in two stages, the sequential vaccinations against prostate cancer in patients with disease that has recurred or metastasized (spread beyond the primary site) following standard treatment. Stage 1 of the study will examine the safety of the vaccine and Stage 2 will examine its ability to enhance an immune response against tumor cells. The experimental vaccine consists of three parts, or ingredients: Part 1 is the poxvirus (vaccinia or fowlpox). Vaccinia has been used for many years against smallpox. Part 2 and Part 3 each is a type of human DNA which is put inside the vaccinia and the fowlpox viruses. One human DNA (Part 2) produces PSA protein, which is made by prostate cancer cells; the other human DNA (Part 3) produces various proteins called TRICOM that enhance immune activity. This protocol will also use a FDA approved drug called Sargramostin (also called granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, or GM-CSF) that boosts the immune system. Another drug is the experimental form of Sargramostin (or RF-GMCSF) in which the human DNA for GM-CSF is put inside the fowlpox virus.

Patients 18 years of age or older with recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood and urine tests, and imaging studies, including computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Candidates for Stage 2 will have a blood test to determine tissue type (human leukocyte antigen, or HLA) type. Only patients with HLA-A2 type may participate in Stage 2. As well, Stage 2 patients must not have had prior chemotherapy, and no prior PSA vaccine therapy.

Stage 1 - Safety Study

Patients in Stage 1 will receive different combinations and dosages of vaccines. The specific vaccine and dosage for an individual will be determined by his or her time of entry in the study. The first group of 3 to 6 patients will receive fowlpox-TRICOM vaccine alone; group 2 patients receive vaccinia-TRICOM and fowlpox TRICOM; group 3, vaccinia-TRICOM, fowlpox-TRICOM, and Sargramostin; group 4, vaccinia-TRICOM, fowlpox-TRICOM, and RF-GMCSF; group 5, vaccinia-TRICOM, fowlpox-TRICOM and rFGMCSF higher dose. All vaccines are injected under the skin. Patients receiving the vaccines have injections once a month and evaluated on the third month. Patients receiving Sargramostin will be injected under the skin once a day for 4 days, starting on the day of each vaccine injection.

Stage 2 - Immune Response Study

Patients in Stage 2 will be randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups, consisting of different combinations of vaccines to test the effects of the vaccines on the immune system. The course of treatment is similar to that in Stage 1. To obtain sufficient numbers of immune system cells to measure immune response, patients will undergo lymphapheresis (a procedure for collecting lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell), on days 1 and 85 of the study. For this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle in an arm vein and circulated through a machine that separates it into its components. The lymphocytes are removed, and the rest of the blood is returned to the patient through the same needle. For patients who do not have good arm veins, lymphocytes will be collected through a temporary catheter (plastic tube) that is placed in a large vein in the neck or under the collarbone. Patients whose disease remains stable and who tolerate the treatments may continue to receive the vaccines as per protocol. Patients will be monitored closely throughout treatment with monthly blood tests and with x-ray studies, including bone scans and CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis, every 85 days.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects
Gender: Male
Referral Letter Required: No
Population Exclusion(s): Female

Children

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients must have histopathological documentation of prostate cancer confirmed in the Laboratory of Pathology, CCR, NCI, or NNMC prior to starting this study. If no pathologic specimen is available to the NCI or NNMC, patients may enroll with a pathologist's report showing a histologic diagnosis of prostate cancer and a clinical course consistent with the disease.

Patients must have androgen insensitive metastatic prostate cancer. Progression must be documented by at least one of the following parameters.

a. All patients must have received standard of care (hormonal) treatment before entering the trial.

b. All patients will have received and progressed on hormonal therapy for metastatic prostate carcinoma.

c. All subjects must have objective evidence of metastasis or relapsing local disease to be eligible for this Phase I trial; therefore, they must have a rising PSA and at least one of the following: positive bone scan, palpable disease, or positive imaging studies, as defined below.

i. Two consecutively rising PSA levels, separated by at least 1 week, with at least one measurement that is 50% above the

nadir reached after the last therapeutic maneuver (as long as the last measurement is 5 ng/ml or greater), and

ii. At least one lesion consistent with metastatic cancer on Technetium (Tc)-99 whole body scintigraphy, and/or

iii. Soft-tissue metastases as measured by appropriate modalities (i.e., imaging, palpation).

Patients must have a life expectancy of more than 6 months.

Patients must have a performance status of 0 to 2 according to the ECOG criteria.

Patients must have recovered from any acute toxicity related to prior therapy, including surgery, and radiation (treatment must have been completed at least 4 weeks prior to being eligible for the study). Patients who are responding to hormonal therapy are not eligible until evidence of disease progression.

Hematological eligibility parameters (within 16 days of starting therapy):

Granulocyte count greater than or equal to 1,500/mm3

Platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/mm3

Lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 500/mm3

Hgb greater than or equal to10 Gm/dL

Biochemical eligibility parameters (within 16 days of starting therapy):

a. A 24-hour urine collection for baseline to measure creatinine clearance, protein and electrolytes. CrCl greater than 60, less than 1000 milligrams per 24 hours, less than or equal to Grade 1 (NCI-CTC version 2.0) proteinuria, Grade 0 hematuria, and no abnormal sediment. Grade 0 creatinine. Patients must have serum creatinine within normal limits.

Any abnormalities in the sediment or the presence of hematuria without a likely underlying cause should prompt the investigator to consider an evaluation by a nephrologist for evidence of underlying renal pathology. Patients may be eligible if the underlying cause of the abnormality is determined to be non-renal.

b. Hepatic function: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dl, AST and ALT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal.

c. Patients must be test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.

Patients must not have other active malignancies within the past 2 years (with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancers or carcinoma in situ of the bladder) or life threatening illnesses.

Patients must be willing to travel to the NIH for follow-up visits.

Patients must be greater than or equal to 18 years of age.

All patients who have received prior vaccination with vaccinia virus (for smallpox immunization) must not have a history of allergy or untoward reaction to the vaccine. Since vaccinia immunoglobulin (VIG) is available from the CDC, prior vaccinia vaccination as a safety precaution is no longer required.

Patients must understand and sign informed consent that explains the neoplastic nature of their disease, the procedures to be followed, the experimental nature of the treatment, alternative treatments, potential risks and toxicities, and the voluntary nature of participation.

For Stage 2 of this study only, patients must not have received the following chemotherapeutic agents for cancer within 3 years of enrolling on study: docetaxel, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, cisplatinum, carboplatinum, mitoxantrone, estramustine, cyclophosphamide, irinotecan, topotecan. Patients must not have received prior PSA vaccine therapy.

Patients will tested for HLA-A2; however, the results of this test will not affect entry onto Stage 1 of this study. This test may be drawn by the patient's referring physician at the time of referral (see Appendix C, HLA-typing consent). This consent will be mailed to the patient and discussed with patient. The signed consent will be signed with a witness, then mailed to the assigned research nurse at the NIH Clinical Center. These patients must have measurable disease on CT, MRI, or bone scan.

The effects of the study agents used in this protocol on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.

B. Stage 2 Patients

Patients must have histopathological documentation of prostate cancer confirmed in the Laboratory of Pathology, CCR, NCI, or NNMC prior to starting this study. If no pathologic specimen is available to the NCI or NNMC, patients may enroll with a pathologist's report showing a histologic diagnosis of prostate cancer and a clinical course consistent with the disease.

Patients must have androgen insensitive metastatic prostate cancer. Progression must be documented by at least one of the following parameters.

a. All patients must have received standard of care (hormonal) treatment before entering the trial.

b. All patients will have received and progressed on hormonal therapy for metastatic prostate carcinoma.

c. All subjects must have objective evidence of metastasis or relapsing local disease to be eligible for this Phase I trial; therefore, they must have a rising PSA and at least one of the following: positive bone scan, palpable disease, or positive imaging studies, as defined below.

i. Two consecutively rising PSA levels, separated by at least 1 week, with at least one measurement that is 50% above the

nadir reached after the last therapeutic maneuver (as long as the last measurement is 5 ng/ml or greater), and

ii. At least one lesion consistent with metastatic cancer on Technetium (Tc)-99 whole body scintigraphy, and/or

iii. Soft-tissue metastases as measured by appropriate modalities (i.e., imaging, palpation).

Patients must have a life expectancy of more than 6 months.

Patients must have a performance status of 0 to 2 according to the ECOG criteria.

Patients must have recovered from any acute toxicity related to prior therapy, including surgery, and radiation (treatment must have been completed at least 4 weeks prior to being eligible for the study).

Hematological eligibility parameters (within 16 days of starting therapy):

Granulocyte count greater than or equal to1,500/mm3

Platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/mm3

Lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 500/mm3

Hgb greater than or equal to 10 Gm/dL

Biochemical eligibility parameters (within 16 days of starting therapy):

a. A 24-hour urine collection for baseline to measure creatinine clearance, protein and electrolytes. CrCl greater than 60, proteinuria less than 1000 milligrams per 24 hours, less than or equal to Grade 1 (NCI-CTC version 2.0) proteinuria, Grade 0 hematuria, and no abnormal sediment. Grade 0 creatinine. Patients must have serum creatinine within normal limits.

Any abnormalities in the sediment or the presence of hematuria without a likely underlying cause should prompt the investigator to consider an evaluation by a nephrologist for evidence of underlying renal pathology. Patients may be eligible if the underlying cause of the abnormality is determined to be non-renal.

b. Hepatic function: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dl, AST and ALT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal.

c. Patients must test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.

Patients must not have other active malignancies within the past 2 years (with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancers or carcinoma in situ of the bladder) or life threatening illnesses.

Patients must be willing to travel to the NIH for follow-up visits.

Patients must be greater than or equal to 18 years of age.

All patients who have received prior vaccination with vaccinia virus (for smallpox immunization) must not have a history of allergy or untoward reaction to the vaccine. Since vaccinia immunoglobulin (VIG) is available from the CDC, prior vaccinia vaccination as a safety precaution is no longer required.

Patients must understand and sign informed consent that explains the neoplastic nature of their disease, the procedures to be followed, the experimental nature of the treatment, alternative treatments, potential risks and toxicities, and the voluntary nature of participation.

For Stage 2 of this study only, patients have not received the following chemotherapeutic agents for cancer within 3 years of enrolling on study: docetaxel, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, cisplatinum, carboplatinum, mitoxantrone, estramustine, cyclophosphamide, irinotecan, topotecan. Patients have not received prior PSA vaccine therapy.

All patients will tested for HLA-A2; however, for Stage 2 of this study patients must be HLA-A2+. This test may be drawn by the patient's referring physician at the time of referral (see Appendix C, HLA-typing consent). This consent will be mailed to the patient and discussed with patient. The signed consent will be signed with a witness, then mailed to the assigned research nurse at the NIH Clinical Center. These patients must have measurable disease on CT, MRI, or bone.

The effects of the study agents used in this protocol on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

A. Stage 1 Patients

Prior splenectomy.

Concurrent steroid use, except topical steroids or inhaled steroid use.

The recombinant vaccinia vaccine should not be administered if the following apply to either recipients or, for at least 3 weeks after vaccination, their close household contacts: persons with active or a history of eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders; those with other acute, chronic or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne or other open rashes or wounds) until condition resolves; pregnant or nursing women; children under 5 years of age; and immunodeficient or immunosuppressed persons (by disease or therapy), including HIV infection. Close household contacts are those who share housing or have close physical contact.

Patients with known allergy to eggs.

Other serious intercurrent illness.

Patients with brain metastases.

Patients with a history of unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris, recent myocardial infarction (within 6 months of enrollment) or New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure.

Patients on antiandrogen therapy must undergo antiandrogen withdrawal for at least 4 weeks and still show evidence of a rising PSA. Following treatment with bicalutamide, patients must undergo withdrawal for at least 6 weeks and still show evidence of a rising PSA.

Patients with significant autoimmune disease that is active or potentially life threatening if activated.

Patients with clinically significant cardiomyopathy requiring treatment should be excluded from protocol eligibility at this time.

B. Stage 2 Patients

Prior splenectomy.

Concurrent steroid use, except topical steroids or inhaled steroid use.

The recombinant vaccinia vaccine should not be administered if the following apply to either recipients or, for at least 3 weeks after vaccination, their close household contacts: persons with active or a history of eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders; those with other acute, chronic or exfoliative skin conditions (e.g., atopic dermatitis, burns, impetigo, varicella zoster, severe acne or other open rashes or wounds) until condition resolves; pregnant or nursing women; children under 5 years of age; and immunodeficient or immunosuppressed persons (by disease or therapy), including HIV infection. Close household contacts are those who share housing or have close physical contact.

Patients with known allergy to eggs.

Other serious intercurrent illness.

Patients with brain metastases.

Patients with a history of unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris, recent myocardial infarction (within 6 months of enrollment) or New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure.

Patients on antiandrogen therapy must undergo antiandrogen withdrawal for at least 4 weeks and still show evidence of a rising PSA. Following treatment with bicalutamide, patients must undergo withdrawal for at least 6 weeks and still show evidence of a rising PSA.

For Stage 2 patients only, prior treatments with vaccine expressing PSA are NOT eligible.

Patients with significant autoimmune disease that is active or potentially life threatening if activated.

Patients with clinically significant cardiomyopathy requiring treatment should be excluded from protocol eligibility at this time.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
Immunotherapy
Cytokines
Immune Assays
Recruitment Keywords:
Prostate Cancer
Conditions:
Prostatic Neoplasms
Investigational Drug(s):
Recombinant Vaccinia-PSA(L155)-TRICOM (PROSTVAC-V/TRICOM)
Recombinant Fowlpox-PSA(L155)-TRICOM (PRSTVAC-F/TRICOM)
Recombinant Fowlpox-GM-CSF
Investigational Device(s):
None

Contacts:
Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:
Bubley GJ, Carducci M, Dahut W, Dawson N, Daliani D, Eisenberger M, Figg WD, Freidlin B, Halabi S, Hudes G, Hussain M, Kaplan R, Myers C, Oh W, Petrylak DP, Reed E, Roth B, Sartor O, Scher H, Simons J, Sinibaldi V, Small EJ, Smith MR, Trump DL, Wilding G, et al. Eligibility and response guidelines for phase II clinical trials in androgen-independent prostate cancer: recommendations from the Prostate-Specific Antigen Working Group. J Clin Oncol. 1999 Nov;17(11):3461-7. PMID: 10550143

Jemal A, Thomas A, Murray T, Thun M. Cancer statistics, 2002.

CA Cancer J Clin. 2002 Jan-Feb;52(1):23-47. PMID: 11814064

Correale P, Walmsley K, Nieroda C, Zaremba S, Zhu M, Schlom J, Tsang KY. In vitro generation of human cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for peptides derived from prostate-specific antigen. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1997 Feb 19;89(4):293-300.

PMID: 9048833

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

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