Skip to content

Immunotherapy Targeted Against Cytomegalovirus in Patients With Newly-Diagnosed WHO Grade IV Unmethylated Glioma

I-ATTAC: Improved Anti-Tumor Immunotherapy Targeted Against Cytomegalovirus in Patients With Newly-Diagnosed WHO Grade IV Unmethylated Glioma

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03927222
Acronym
I-ATTAC
Enrollment
6
Registered
2019-04-25
Start date
2019-09-30
Completion date
2023-02-10
Last updated
2024-04-08

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

Conditions

Glioblastoma

Keywords

Glioblastoma, Dendritic cells, Temozolomide, Tetanus, Khasraw, Immunotherapy, Vaccine

Brief summary

This single-arm phase II study will assess the impact of tetanus pre-conditioning and adjuvant Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) on overall survival of patients newly diagnosed with World Health Organization (WHO) Grade IV glioblastoma who have undergone definitive tumor resection, are cytomegalovirus (CMV) positive and unmethylated, and completed standard temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation treatment. After completion of the standard of care radiotherapy with concurrent TMZ, patients will receive 1 cycle of dose-intensified TMZ followed by pp65-loaded dendritic cell (DC) vaccination beginning on day 23.

Detailed description

Approximately 64 patients with resected, newly-diagnosed WHO Grade IV glioma who are CMV positive and in which the Methylguanine Methyltransferase (MGMT) is not methylated will be accrued to this study before standard of care radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent TMZ, with the goal of treating 48 patients with dose-intensified temozolomide and pp65 loaded dendritic cell vaccine after completion of standard RT and TMZ. All enrolled patients will undergo a leukapheresis for the generation of DCs. Patients will then receive approximately 6 weeks of the standard of care radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent TMZ at a standard targeted dose of 75 mg/m2/day. For patients whose initial leukapheresis yields less than 3 vaccines, repeat leukapheresis may be obtained. At the post-RT clinic visit, a single post-RT cycle of dose-intensified TMZ (100 mg/m2/day for 21 days) will be given. On day 23 (± 2 days) of the cycle, patients will receive the first of 3 pp65 DC vaccines. Vaccines #1-3 will be given every two weeks (± 2 days). All patients will receive up to a total of 10 DC vaccines, with vaccines administered every 35 days (± 7 days) after the third vaccine, given bilaterally at the groin site unless progression occurs with no further cycles of TMZ. DC vaccines will be given intradermally (i.d.) and divided equally to both inguinal regions. Before the first DC vaccination, patients will receive 0.5 mL of Td (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed) intramuscularly into the deltoid muscle to ensure adequate immunity to the tetanus antigen. Patients will undergo leukapheresis again for immunologic monitoring with a specific assessment of baseline antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses if needed for further DC generations 14 (± 2) days after vaccine #3. Prior to pp65 DC vaccination #4,(3±1) weeks after leukapheresis 2, the vaccine site will receive a pre-conditioning intradermal injection of Td. Up to 16 patients will receive 111-Indium labeled DCs at the 4th vaccine followed by SPECT/CT imaging immediately, and at 1 and 2 days after injections.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALHuman CMV pp65-LAMP mRNA-pulsed autologous DCs containing GM CSF

2x10\^7 human CMV pp65-LAMP mRNA-pulsed autologous DCs are given intradermally and bilaterally at the groin site (divided equally to both inguinal regions). Patients will receive up to a total of 10 DC vaccines.

DRUGTemozolomide

Temozolomide is a chemotherapy drug given to all enrolled patients at the post-RT clinic visit as dose-intensified TMZ (100 mg/m2/day for 21 days).

Before the first DC vaccination, patients will receive 0.5 mL of Td (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed) intramuscularly into the deltoid muscle to ensure adequate immunity to the tetanus antigen. Prior to pp65 DC vaccination #4,(3±1) weeks after leukapheresis 2 the vaccine site will receive a pre-conditioning intradermal injection of Td (1 flocculation unit (Lf), in 0.3 mL of saline for a total of 0.4 mL).

BIOLOGICALGM-CSF

Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a sterile, white, preservative-free lyophilized powder in a vial containing 250 mcg that will be reconstituted in 0.5 mL of sterile water for injection and used as an adjuvant with the DC vaccine.

BIOLOGICAL111-Indium-labeling of Cells for in vivo Trafficking Studies

111-In-labeled DCs are 2 x 10\^7 pp65-LAMP mRNA loaded mature DCs labeled with 111-In (50 μCi / 5 x 10\^7 DCs) and given i.d. as the fourth vaccine. In up to 16 patients, the fourth vaccine will be labeled with 111-In (50 μCi / 5 x 10\^7 DCs) prior to injection.

Sponsors

Mustafa Khasraw, MBChB, MD, FRCP, FRACP
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Newly-diagnosed WHO Grade IV glioma patients with their tumor resected and found to be MGMT unmethylated will be accrued to this study before the standard of care chemoradiation with the goal of treating with dose-intensified TMZ and pp65 loaded dendritic cell vaccine after completion of the standard of care chemoradiation.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Age ≥ 18 years * Newly diagnosed World Health Organization (WHO) Grade IV Glioma with definitive resection prior to the consent, with a residual radiographic contrast enhancing disease on the postoperative computed tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of \<1 cm in maximal diameter in any plane. * Able to receive standard of care radiation and chemotherapy for approximately 6 weeks duration and of more than 54 Gray (GY) * MRI post radiation therapy (RT) does not show progressive disease outside the radiation field * Enough tumor tissue available for determination of methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter status (must be unmethylated) or prior pathology report available confirming MGMT gene promoter status * Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Seropositive * Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of ≥ 70% * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dl, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,000 cells/µl, platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/µl prior to starting TMZ cycle 1 (patient must meet these criteria within 4 weeks after the end of XRT/TMZ to be eligible) * Serum creatinine ≤ 3 times institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3 times institutional upper limit of normal for age * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal prior to starting TMZ cycle 1 (Exception: Patient has known Gilbert's Syndrome or patient has suspected Gilbert's Syndrome, for which additional lab testing of direct and/or indirect bilirubin supports this diagnosis. In these instances, a total bilirubin of ≤ 3.0 x ULN is acceptable.) * Signed informed consent approved by the Institutional Review Board * Female patients must not be pregnant or breastfeeding. Female patients of childbearing potential (defined as \< 2 years after last menstruation or not surgically sterile) must use a highly effective contraceptive method (allowed methods of birth control, \[i.e. with a failure rate of \< 1% per year\] are implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, intrauterine device \[IUD; only hormonal\], sexual abstinence or vasectomized partner) during the trial and for a period of \> 6 months following the last administration of trial drug(s). Female patients with an intact uterus (unless amenorrhea for the last 24 months) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 48 hours prior to first study procedure (leukapheresis). * Fertile male patients must agree to use a highly effective contraceptive method (allowed methods of birth control \[i.e. with a failure rate of \< 1% per year\] include a female partner using implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs) \[only hormonal\], sexual abstinence or prior vasectomy) during the trial and for a period of \> 6 months following the last administration of trial drugs.

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant or breastfeeding. * Women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception. * Patients with known potentially anaphylactic allergic reactions to gadolinium- diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA). * Patients who cannot undergo MRI or SPECT due to obesity or to having certain metal in their bodies (specifically pacemakers, infusion pumps, metal aneurysm clips, metal prostheses, joints, rods, or plates). * Patients with evidence of tumor in the brainstem, cerebellum, or spinal cord, radiological evidence of multifocal disease, or leptomeningeal disease. * Severe, active comorbidity, including any of the following: 1. Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization; 2. Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months; 3. Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of study initiation; 4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness r requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy; 5. Known hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects; 6. Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C positive status; 7. Major medical illnesses or psychiatric impairments that, in the investigator's opinion, will prevent administration or completion of protocol therapy; 8. Active connective tissue disorders, such as lupus or scleroderma that, in the opinion of the treating physician, may put the patient at high risk for radiation toxicity. * Co-medication that may interfere with study results; e.g. immuno-suppressive agents other than corticosteroids * Prior, unrelated malignancy requiring current active treatment with the exception of cervical carcinoma in situ and adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. (Treatment with tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors or other hormonal therapy that may be indicated in the prevention of prior cancer disease recurrence, are not considered current active treatment.) * Patients are not permitted to have had any other conventional therapeutic intervention other than steroids prior to enrollment outside of the standard of care chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients who receive previous inguinal lymph node dissection, radiosurgery, brachytherapy, or radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies will be excluded * Current, recent (within 4 weeks of the administration of this study agent), or planned participation in an experimental drug study. * Known history of autoimmune disease (with the exceptions of medically-controlled hypothyroidism and Type I Diabetes Mellitus).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Median Overall Survival (OS) of Subjects Receiving Td Pre-conditioning With GM-CSFduration of the study (up to 3 years and 4.5 months)Time in months from the start of study treatment to date of death due to any cause. Patients alive as of the last follow-up has OS censored at the last follow-up date. Median OS was estimated using a Kaplan-Meier curve.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Migration and Survival From Vaccine 45 yearsThe Cox proportional hazards model will assess the impact of migration on survival after vaccine #4. Migration is defined as the maximum percentage of 111In-labeled dendritic cells (DCs) reaching inguinal nodes during the 48 hours after the 4th vaccination. The hazard ratio associated with a 1-unit change in migration will be estimated with 95% confidence intervals.CSF to site-draining inguinal lymph nodes after Td pre-conditioning and survival after vaccine # 4.
Chemokine (C-C Motif) Ligand 3 (CCL3) and Survival From Vaccine 45 yearsThe Cox proportional hazards model will assess the impact of CCL3 on survival post-vaccine 4. The hazard ratio associate with a 1-unit increase in CCL3 will be estimated with 95% confidence intervals
Polyfunctionality and Survival From Vaccine 45 yearsCox proportional hazards model will assess the association between fold change increase between baseline and the leukapheresis 2 in the frequency of pp65 antigen-specific CD8+ T cells producing three or more cytokines (IFNγ, CCL3, IL-2, TNFα, CD107a), and survival post-vaccine 4. The hazard ratio associate with a 1-unit fold change in polyfunctionality will be estimated with 95% confidence intervals.
Maximum Peak Increase From Vaccine 1 in Percent Regulatory T Cells (TReg) of CD4+ T Cells1 yearThe mean difference in TRegs between vaccine 1 and the maximum measured level post-vaccine 1 will be reported.
Number of Participants With Unacceptable Toxicity1 yearAn unacceptable toxicity is defined as any grade 3 or greater toxicity that is possibly, probably, or definitely attributed to the pre-conditioning agent Td or pp65 DC vaccine that does not resolve to baseline within 3 weeks; any Grade 3 hypersensitivity reactions or autoimmune toxicity requiring steroids or hormone replacement; , and is not due to progressive disease, or any life-threatening event not attributable to concomitant medication, co-morbid event, or disease progression. Toxicities will be graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria of Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5 criteria.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
DC Vaccination With Td Preconditioning and GM CSF
Human CMV pp65-LAMP mRNA-pulsed autologous DCs containing GM CSF: 2x10\^7 human CMV pp65-LAMP mRNA-pulsed autologous DCs are given intradermally and bilaterally at the groin site (divided equally to both inguinal regions). Patients will receive up to a total of 10 DC vaccines. Temozolomide: Temozolomide is a chemotherapy drug given to all enrolled patients at the post-RT clinic visit as dose-intensified TMZ (100 mg/m2/day for 21 days). Tetanus-Diphtheria Toxoid (Td): Before the first DC vaccination, patients will receive 0.5 mL of Td (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed) intramuscularly into the deltoid muscle to ensure adequate immunity to the tetanus antigen. Prior to pp65 DC vaccination #4,(3±1) weeks after leukapheresis 2 the vaccine site will receive a pre-conditioning intradermal injection of Td (1 flocculation unit (Lf), in 0.3 mL of saline for a total of 0.4 mL). GM-CSF: Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a sterile, white, preservative-free lyophilized powder in a vial containing 250 mcg that will be reconstituted in 0.5 mL of sterile water for injection and used as an adjuvant with the DC vaccine. 111-Indium-labeling of Cells for in vivo Trafficking Studies: 111-In-labeled DCs are 2 x 10\^7 pp65-LAMP mRNA loaded mature DCs labeled with 111-In (50 μCi / 5 x 10\^7 DCs) and given i.d. as the fourth vaccine. In up to 16 patients, the fourth vaccine will be labeled with 111-In (50 μCi / 5 x 10\^7 DCs) prior to injection.
6
Total6

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyCMV testing results inconclusive1
Overall StudyEarly study termination1
Overall StudyProgression3
Overall StudyUnable to generate enough vaccines1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicDC Vaccination With Td Preconditioning and GM CSF
Age, Continuous63 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.2
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
4 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
2 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
5 / 6
other
Total, other adverse events
6 / 6
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 6

Outcome results

Primary

Median Overall Survival (OS) of Subjects Receiving Td Pre-conditioning With GM-CSF

Time in months from the start of study treatment to date of death due to any cause. Patients alive as of the last follow-up has OS censored at the last follow-up date. Median OS was estimated using a Kaplan-Meier curve.

Time frame: duration of the study (up to 3 years and 4.5 months)

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
DC Vaccination With Td Preconditioning and GM CSFMedian Overall Survival (OS) of Subjects Receiving Td Pre-conditioning With GM-CSF17.4 months
Secondary

Chemokine (C-C Motif) Ligand 3 (CCL3) and Survival From Vaccine 4

The Cox proportional hazards model will assess the impact of CCL3 on survival post-vaccine 4. The hazard ratio associate with a 1-unit increase in CCL3 will be estimated with 95% confidence intervals

Time frame: 5 years

Population: Data not collected.

Secondary

Maximum Peak Increase From Vaccine 1 in Percent Regulatory T Cells (TReg) of CD4+ T Cells

The mean difference in TRegs between vaccine 1 and the maximum measured level post-vaccine 1 will be reported.

Time frame: 1 year

Population: Data not collected.

Secondary

Migration and Survival From Vaccine 4

The Cox proportional hazards model will assess the impact of migration on survival after vaccine #4. Migration is defined as the maximum percentage of 111In-labeled dendritic cells (DCs) reaching inguinal nodes during the 48 hours after the 4th vaccination. The hazard ratio associated with a 1-unit change in migration will be estimated with 95% confidence intervals.CSF to site-draining inguinal lymph nodes after Td pre-conditioning and survival after vaccine # 4.

Time frame: 5 years

Population: Data not collected.

Secondary

Number of Participants With Unacceptable Toxicity

An unacceptable toxicity is defined as any grade 3 or greater toxicity that is possibly, probably, or definitely attributed to the pre-conditioning agent Td or pp65 DC vaccine that does not resolve to baseline within 3 weeks; any Grade 3 hypersensitivity reactions or autoimmune toxicity requiring steroids or hormone replacement; , and is not due to progressive disease, or any life-threatening event not attributable to concomitant medication, co-morbid event, or disease progression. Toxicities will be graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria of Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5 criteria.

Time frame: 1 year

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
DC Vaccination With Td Preconditioning and GM CSFNumber of Participants With Unacceptable Toxicity0 Participants
Secondary

Polyfunctionality and Survival From Vaccine 4

Cox proportional hazards model will assess the association between fold change increase between baseline and the leukapheresis 2 in the frequency of pp65 antigen-specific CD8+ T cells producing three or more cytokines (IFNγ, CCL3, IL-2, TNFα, CD107a), and survival post-vaccine 4. The hazard ratio associate with a 1-unit fold change in polyfunctionality will be estimated with 95% confidence intervals.

Time frame: 5 years

Population: Data not collected.

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