Research Study Utilizing Expanded Multi-antigen Specific Lymphocytes for the Treatment of Solid Tumors

Solid Tumors

Patients with high-risk solid tumors, those that are refractory to standard up front therapy or relapse after completion of therapy, have a very poor prognosis despite attempts to induce remission with salvage regimen. Novel therapies are critical for this patient population with high-risk cancer. The ability of tumors to be recognized and lysed by the immune system offers a unique opportunity to aid in tumor eradication by expanding and activating these anti-tumor cells. Through this ability to harness sophisticated and specific immunotherapy, residual or relapsed disease that is resistant to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy could be eradicated. Prior studies have suggested both safety of expanded specific T cells and efficacy in the setting of melanoma, lymphoma or viral eradication. While this therapy has previously been limited by the versatility of the tumor to down-regulate antigens and evade a single immune-target, the use of multi-antigen specific T cells may permit better and more durable anti-tumor immunity. Thus, the investigators propose to infuse these specific multi-antigen anti-tumor T lymphocytes into patients with high risk solid tumors. This trial will be conducted to demonstrate safety of these cells and generate efficacy and biology data that may be important for future studies that may enhance tumor immunotherapy.

This protocol is designed as a phase I dose-escalation study. In each treatment group (A and B), patients will be enrolled to one of the following TAA-CTL dose levels: Dose Level One: 1 x 107 cells/m2 Dose Level Two: 2 x 107 cells/m2 Dose Level Three: 4 x 107 cells/m2 Patients will receive cells due to the presence of refractory disease and/or high risk for disease relapse and/or residual detectable disease following HSCT or conventional therapy at the time of the infusion. Group A and Group B patients will use the dose escalation strategy described above. Ideally, patients should not receive other systemic antineoplastic agents for at least 45 days after the infusion of TAA- CTL (for purposes of evaluation), although such treatment may be added if deemed critical for patient care by the attending physician. Two to four patients will be enrolled at each dose level until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined at which point to ensure safety a total 8 patients will be treated at the MTD. Each patient will receive at least one TAA-CTL infusion and may receive a maximum of 8 doses total. Dose escalation will occur once at least 2 patients have completed the 45 day follow up period following their first TAA-CTL infusion. The first and second doses will be administered 45 days apart then additional doses will be spaced every 28 days. The expected volume of each infusion is 1 to 10 cc. Expansion cohorts of Group B patients with Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, adenocarcinoma and esophageal cancer will be permitted to enroll up to 6 additional patients in each disease group, to be treated at the MTD. Within group B, a cohort of patients with relapsed or refractory Wilms tumor will be enrolled and receive a lymphodepleting chemotherapy regimen followed by TAA-T. If patients with measurable or evaluable disease have a response of stable disease or better by RECIST criteria at the day 28 evaluation after dose 2 or subsequent evaluations they are eligible to receive up to 6 additional doses of CTLs at 28 day intervals. Each subsequent doseis expected to be at the enrollment dose level (i.e. no subsequent dose escalation). Following dose 1, if a patient's T cell supply is insufficient for subsequent doses at the enrollment dose level, further treatments may be administered at a lower dose level at the treating physician's discretion.

United States