Skip to content

Phase II Feasibility Study of Dendritic Cell Vaccination for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme

A Phase II Feasibility Study of Adjuvant Intra-Nodal Autologous Dendritic Cell Vaccination for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00323115
Enrollment
11
Registered
2006-05-09
Start date
2006-05-31
Completion date
2013-07-31
Last updated
2018-10-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Glioblastoma Multiforme

Keywords

immunotherapy, cancer vaccine, glioblastoma multiforme

Brief summary

Adult patients who have surgical resection of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme will be treated with radiotherapy/chemotherapy followed by dendritic cell vaccine. Chemotherapy will be administered after three vaccinations for one year or until progression of disease.

Detailed description

Two to six weeks after surgery, patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) will undergo a six-week course of radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy (temozolomide). Between three and seven weeks after completing radiotherapy/chemotherapy, patients will undergo leukapheresis to collect white blood cells. These cells will be grown into dendritic cells, and cultured with tumor cells from the individual patient. Vaccinations will be given every two weeks for a total of three vaccinations. Four weeks after the third vaccination patients will resume chemotherapy for one year or until disease progression.

Interventions

Vaccine given by cervical lymph node injection 3 times every other week

DRUGTemozolomide

Radiotherapy (RT) with concurrent temozolomide (TMZ) for 6 weeks before vaccine is SOC

PROCEDURERadiotherapy

RT is standard of care (SOC) post surgery

Vaccine given cervical lymphnode injection 3 times every other week

Sponsors

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically proven GBM with central pathology review at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) * Tumor specimen obtained at the time of surgery adequate for vaccination * 18 years of age or older * Karnofsky Performance Status 60% or greater * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1.5 x 10 9th/L * Platelets greater than or equal to 100 x 10 9th/L * Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) or Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) less than or equal to 5 times the upper limits of normal (ULN) * Total bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 times ULN * Serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 times ULN, OR estimated creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 mL/min * No known immunosuppression other than chemo-related * Negative HIV serologies * No evidence of acute or chronic hepatitis on standard hepatitis C and B screening tests * No chemotherapy within four weeks prior to leukapheresis * Radiotherapy at outside institution is permitted if tissue was obtained at time of surgery at DHMC and patient is willing to follow-up per protocol * Off steroids for at least two weeks before leukapheresis * No second malignancies except non-melanoma skin cancer, and non-invasive cancer such at cervical CIS, superficial bladder cancer or breast CIS * Negative serum or urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential * No serious uncontrolled medical disorder or active infection * All patients must give informed consent * No history of clinical evidence of active autoimmune disease

Exclusion criteria

* Invasive cancers in the past 5 years * Rheumatologic/autoimmune disease * Pregnancy or unwillingness to remain on acceptable form of birth control during study * Major cardiac, pulmonary, or other systemic disease; viral hepatitis; HIV infection

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tumor-specific Cytotoxic T-cell ResponseDay 42MRI & pheresis post vaccine

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Evaluable Data: Feasibility of VaccinationThrough enrollment, approximately 2 yearsTo determine the feasibility of this approach, the investigators hypothesize that at least 2/3 of the patients included in the study will be evaluable, meaning that the participants would have received the 3 vaccinations with immunologic outcome parameters measured before and after vaccination. Therefore a maximum of 15 patients would be enrolled in the study to obtain 10 evaluable patients. If after enrolling 15 patients the investigators are unable to obtain 10 evaluable patients, the investigators would consider this approach not feasible.
Progression Free Survival (PFS)Approximately 42 monthsProgression-free survival will be assessed for each patient as the time from surgery until the patient reaches objective disease progression by MRI criteria. Death will be regarded as a progression event in those patients that die before disease progression. Patients without documented objective progression at the time of the analysis will be censored at the date of their last objective tumor assessment. Since disease free survival and overall survival are secondary endpoints all patients will be followed until death or for a period of 5 years following enrollment.
Number of Participants With Significant Difference in Tumor Volume Size Pre- and Postvaccination: Neuroimaging and Tumor Assessmentbaseline and 4 weeksPatients with evidence of evaluable enhancing disease on contrast-enhanced MRI performed within four weeks of study entry will be evaluated for response rate. Patients will be evaluated for objective tumor assessments by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-MRI). Comparisons of objective assessments, excluding progressive disease, are based upon major changes in tumor size on the Gd-MRI compared to the baseline scan. Determination of progressive disease is based upon comparison to the previous scan with volumetric analysis.
Overall Survival Duration: Efficacy ParametersApproximately 42 monthsOverall survival will also be followed. Survival will be assessed from the date of surgery to the date of patient death, due to any cause, or to the last date the patient was known to be alive.
Frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MedianDay 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination).Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cells ) are summarized on a continuous scale as median.
Percentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MedianDay 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as median.
Number of Adverse Events: Toxicity Profile of Intra-nodal DC/Tumor Lysate VaccinationUntil death or approximately 24 months after diagnosisAdverse events attributed to vaccination. Collected and attributed adverse events at each study visit; monitored participants for adverse events for two hours following vaccination procedure.
Frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MeanDay 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cells ) are summarized on a continuous scale as mean.
Percentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MeanDay 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as median. IFN = interferon.
Number of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - MeanDay 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as mean.
Evaluation of T Cell CharacteristicsBefore starting radiation/Temozolomide and at Day 7 and Day 42.Peripheral blood obtained before starting radiation/ temozolomide (TMZ), and at first and second leukapheresis will be used to do lymphocyte phenotyping. We will determine percentages of CD3+/CD8+/CD45RO+ (memory T-cells), CD3+/CD8+/CD28- (CD8 suppressor T cell phenotype), and CD4+/CD25+ cells at those 3 time points. An anti-human Foxp3 antibody will be used to determine if the CD4+/CD25+ cells are T regulatory cells (TREG) and how the compartmental shift correlates with immunoresponse by other immune parameters as well as to efficacy.
ImmunohistochemistryApproximately 42 monthsPathologic specimen obtained from patients who require of another surgical resection after vaccination will be examined to determine the characteristics of infiltrating tumor cells. Paraffin sections of tumor specimen will be stained by immunohistochemistry with antibodies to identify the components of the inflammatory response. This specimen will be compared to the one obtained at the time of initial surgery and changes in inflammation and inflammatory cellular components will be noted.
Number of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - MedianDay 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as mean.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Between May 2006 and February 2008, 60 patients were diagnosed with GBM at our institution. Of 11 patients who entered the study, 1 had a seizure with neurologic deterioration several weeks after leukapheresis and did not receive any DC vaccinations.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Vaccine
Adult patients who have surgical resection of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) will be treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy followed by intranodal vaccine with autologous dendritic cells (DCs) primed with tumor lysate. Adjuvant chemotherapy will be administered after vaccination for 1 year or until tumor progression
11
Total11

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Adjuvant Therapy & Survival Follow-UpDeath8
Vaccine AdministrationAdverse Event1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicVaccine
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
6 Participants
Age, Continuous63.273 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.53
Region of Enrollment
United States
11 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 11

Outcome results

Primary

Tumor-specific Cytotoxic T-cell Response

MRI & pheresis post vaccine

Time frame: Day 42

Population: All participants who received all 3 vaccine administrations were used in this data analysis.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEDIAN)
VaccineTumor-specific Cytotoxic T-cell ResponseNo. CD4+0.496 10^9 cells/L
VaccineTumor-specific Cytotoxic T-cell ResponseNo. CD8+0.4836 10^9 cells/L
Secondary

Evaluation of T Cell Characteristics

Peripheral blood obtained before starting radiation/ temozolomide (TMZ), and at first and second leukapheresis will be used to do lymphocyte phenotyping. We will determine percentages of CD3+/CD8+/CD45RO+ (memory T-cells), CD3+/CD8+/CD28- (CD8 suppressor T cell phenotype), and CD4+/CD25+ cells at those 3 time points. An anti-human Foxp3 antibody will be used to determine if the CD4+/CD25+ cells are T regulatory cells (TREG) and how the compartmental shift correlates with immunoresponse by other immune parameters as well as to efficacy.

Time frame: Before starting radiation/Temozolomide and at Day 7 and Day 42.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% of CD3+/CD8+/CD45RO+ (memory T-cells)30.8 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 11.2
VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% CD3+/CD8+/CD28- (CD8 suppressor T cell phenotype34.6 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 21
VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics%CD4+/CD25+ cells14.9 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 6.8
VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% of are T regulatory cells (TREG)4.0 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 2
Post-VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% of are T regulatory cells (TREG)3.5 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 1.9
Post-VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% of CD3+/CD8+/CD45RO+ (memory T-cells)25.8 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 9.8
Post-VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics%CD4+/CD25+ cells14.1 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 5.6
Post-VaccineEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% CD3+/CD8+/CD28- (CD8 suppressor T cell phenotype30.5 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 18.7
Vaccine - Second LeukapheresisEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% of are T regulatory cells (TREG)1.2 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 0.7
Vaccine - Second LeukapheresisEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% CD3+/CD8+/CD28- (CD8 suppressor T cell phenotype23.7 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 7.2
Vaccine - Second LeukapheresisEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics%CD4+/CD25+ cells11.8 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 6.1
Vaccine - Second LeukapheresisEvaluation of T Cell Characteristics% of CD3+/CD8+/CD45RO+ (memory T-cells)19.3 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 7
Secondary

Frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - Mean

Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cells ) are summarized on a continuous scale as mean.

Time frame: Day 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)

Population: proportion of cells responding to GBM; GBM = glioblastoma multiforme

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MeanPrecursor frequency of CD4+ T cells0.005 proportion of cellsStandard Deviation 0.009
VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MeanPrecursor frequency of CD8+ T cells0.001 proportion of cellsStandard Deviation 0.0008
Post-VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MeanPrecursor frequency of CD4+ T cells0.01 proportion of cellsStandard Deviation 0.01
Post-VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MeanPrecursor frequency of CD8+ T cells0.003 proportion of cellsStandard Deviation 0.004
Secondary

Frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - Median

Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cells ) are summarized on a continuous scale as median.

Time frame: Day 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination).

Population: proportion of cells responding to GBM; GBM = glioblastoma multiforme

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEDIAN)
VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MedianPrecursor frequency of CD4+ T cells0.003 proportion of cells
VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MedianPrecursor frequency of CD8+ T cells0.001 proportion of cells
Post-VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MedianPrecursor frequency of CD4+ T cells0.01 proportion of cells
Post-VaccineFrequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells - the Proportion of Cells in the Parent Population Responding to Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - MedianPrecursor frequency of CD8+ T cells0.001 proportion of cells
Secondary

Immunohistochemistry

Pathologic specimen obtained from patients who require of another surgical resection after vaccination will be examined to determine the characteristics of infiltrating tumor cells. Paraffin sections of tumor specimen will be stained by immunohistochemistry with antibodies to identify the components of the inflammatory response. This specimen will be compared to the one obtained at the time of initial surgery and changes in inflammation and inflammatory cellular components will be noted.

Time frame: Approximately 42 months

Population: Number of patients with pre- and post-tumor tissue procured, to undertake a meaningful analysis of the tumor immunohistochemistry slides inflammatory cells was insufficient. No data was collected.

Secondary

Number of Adverse Events: Toxicity Profile of Intra-nodal DC/Tumor Lysate Vaccination

Adverse events attributed to vaccination. Collected and attributed adverse events at each study visit; monitored participants for adverse events for two hours following vaccination procedure.

Time frame: Until death or approximately 24 months after diagnosis

Population: Participants were monitored for adverse events at each visit and observed for 2 hours after intranodal injections. Toxicities were graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0) and Common Toxicity Criteria (version 3.0).

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
VaccineNumber of Adverse Events: Toxicity Profile of Intra-nodal DC/Tumor Lysate Vaccination1 attributable adverse events
Secondary

Number of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - Mean

Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as mean.

Time frame: Day 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
VaccineNumber of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - Mean1.40 spotsStandard Deviation 4.43
Post-VaccineNumber of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - Mean44.2 spotsStandard Deviation 105.8
Secondary

Number of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - Median

Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as mean.

Time frame: Day 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
VaccineNumber of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - Median0 spots
Post-VaccineNumber of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Spots (ELISPOT) - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy - Median0 spots
Secondary

Number of Participants With Evaluable Data: Feasibility of Vaccination

To determine the feasibility of this approach, the investigators hypothesize that at least 2/3 of the patients included in the study will be evaluable, meaning that the participants would have received the 3 vaccinations with immunologic outcome parameters measured before and after vaccination. Therefore a maximum of 15 patients would be enrolled in the study to obtain 10 evaluable patients. If after enrolling 15 patients the investigators are unable to obtain 10 evaluable patients, the investigators would consider this approach not feasible.

Time frame: Through enrollment, approximately 2 years

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
VaccineNumber of Participants With Evaluable Data: Feasibility of Vaccination10 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Significant Difference in Tumor Volume Size Pre- and Postvaccination: Neuroimaging and Tumor Assessment

Patients with evidence of evaluable enhancing disease on contrast-enhanced MRI performed within four weeks of study entry will be evaluated for response rate. Patients will be evaluated for objective tumor assessments by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-MRI). Comparisons of objective assessments, excluding progressive disease, are based upon major changes in tumor size on the Gd-MRI compared to the baseline scan. Determination of progressive disease is based upon comparison to the previous scan with volumetric analysis.

Time frame: baseline and 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
VaccineNumber of Participants With Significant Difference in Tumor Volume Size Pre- and Postvaccination: Neuroimaging and Tumor Assessment0 Participants
Secondary

Overall Survival Duration: Efficacy Parameters

Overall survival will also be followed. Survival will be assessed from the date of surgery to the date of patient death, due to any cause, or to the last date the patient was known to be alive.

Time frame: Approximately 42 months

Population: There were 4 patients alive when data collection ended, including the patient the longest overall survival.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
VaccineOverall Survival Duration: Efficacy Parameters28 Months
Secondary

Percentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- Mean

Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as median. IFN = interferon.

Time frame: Day 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MeanPercentage of CD4+ proliferating and IFN0.38 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 0.62
VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MeanPercentage of CD8+ proliferating and IFN0.45 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 0.48
Post-VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MeanPercentage of CD4+ proliferating and IFN0.88 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 1.55
Post-VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MeanPercentage of CD8+ proliferating and IFN0.92 percentage of cellsStandard Deviation 1.37
Secondary

Percentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- Median

Pre- and post-vaccine immune assay results (Tumor-specific T-cell Responses) are summarized on a continuous scale as median.

Time frame: Day 7 (pre-vaccination) and Day 42 (post-vaccination)

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEDIAN)
VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MedianPercentage of CD4+ proliferating and IFN0.15 percentage of cells
VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MedianPercentage of CD8+ proliferating and IFN0.27 percentage of cells
Post-VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MedianPercentage of CD4+ proliferating and IFN0.25 percentage of cells
Post-VaccinePercentage of Tumor-specific T-cells - Correlation Between Immunological Parameters and Efficacy- MedianPercentage of CD8+ proliferating and IFN0.25 percentage of cells
Secondary

Progression Free Survival (PFS)

Progression-free survival will be assessed for each patient as the time from surgery until the patient reaches objective disease progression by MRI criteria. Death will be regarded as a progression event in those patients that die before disease progression. Patients without documented objective progression at the time of the analysis will be censored at the date of their last objective tumor assessment. Since disease free survival and overall survival are secondary endpoints all patients will be followed until death or for a period of 5 years following enrollment.

Time frame: Approximately 42 months

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
VaccineProgression Free Survival (PFS)9.5 Months

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026