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First Published: 2/20/2004  
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Phase I Study of Telomerase: 540-548 Peptide Vaccine Emulsified in Montanide ISA-51 and Sargramostim (GM-CSF) in Patients With HLA-A2-Expressing Stage IV Breast Cancer

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

Alternate Title

Vaccine Plus Montanide ISA-51 and Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Stage IV Breast Cancer

Basic Trial Information

Phase
Type
Status
Age
Sponsor
Protocol IDs

Phase I


Treatment


Active


18 and over


NCI


UPCC-11102
NCT00079157

Special Category: NCI Avon award trial

Objectives

Primary

  1. Determine the safety of telomerase: 540-548 peptide vaccine emulsified in Montanide ISA-51 and sargramostim (GM-CSF) in patients with HLA-A2-expressing stage IV breast cancer.

Secondary

  1. Compare the generation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) peptide-specific vs cytomegalovirus peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) immunity in patients treated with this regimen.
  2. Correlate the dose level of this regimen with the generation of hTERT-specific CTL immunity and the development of hTERT-specific autoimmunity in these patients.
  3. Determine the tumor response in patients treated with this regimen.

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer


  • Failed at least 1 prior conventional therapy for metastatic disease


  • Measurable or evaluable disease by clinical, radiographic, or laboratory assessment
    • Measurable lesions must be at least 1 dimension
      • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
    • The following are not considered measurable:
      • Pleural effusion
      • Bone lesions
      • Tumor markers


  • HLA-A2-expressing disease by human leukocyte antigen typing


  • No CNS metastases by contrast CT scan and/or MRI
    • No brain metastases within the past 4 years


  • Hormone receptor status:
    • Not specified


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy

  • No prior allogeneic or autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
  • More than 30 days since prior hematopoietic growth factors
  • More than 30 days since initiation of prior immunotherapy (e.g., trastuzumab [Herceptin])
  • Concurrent immunotherapy (e.g., trastuzumab) allowed provided regimen was initiated more than 30 days before study entry, disease is stable or progressive, and patient plans to continue immunotherapy for the duration of study participation
  • No other concurrent hematopoietic growth factors

Chemotherapy

  • More than 30 days since prior chemotherapy
  • No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

  • More than 30 days since prior glucocorticoids
  • More than 30 days since initiation of prior hormonal therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, anastrozole, or letrozole)
  • Concurrent hormonal therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, anastrozole, or letrozole) allowed provided regimen was initiated more than 30 days before study entry, disease is stable or progressive, and patient plans to continue hormonal therapy for the duration of study participation
  • No concurrent glucocorticoids

Radiotherapy

  • More than 30 days since prior radiotherapy
  • No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

  • Not specified

Other

  • More than 14 days since prior anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, heparin, or enoxaparin)
    • Low-dose anticoagulants to maintain IV catheter patency allowed
  • More than 30 days since prior immunosuppressive drugs
  • More than 30 days since prior experimental therapy
  • No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs
  • No other concurrent investigational products

Patient Characteristics:

Age

  • 18 and over

Sex

  • Not specified

Menopausal status

  • Not specified

Performance status

  • ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

  • More than 6 months

Hematopoietic

  • WBC ≥ 3,000/mm3
  • Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm3
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL

Hepatic

  • Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • ALT and AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN
  • Hepatitis B negative
  • Hepatitis C negative

Renal

  • Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Immunologic

  • HIV negative
  • Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-1 negative
  • No active infection
  • No major autoimmune disorder that would preclude study participation

Other

  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study participation
  • No alcohol abuse or illicit drug use within the past 12 months
  • No clinically significant comorbid disease or other underlying condition that would preclude study participation
  • No significant psychiatric disorder that would preclude giving informed consent or complying with study

Expected Enrollment

28

A total of 5-28 patients will be accrued for this study.

Outline

This is a dose-escalation study of the telomerase: 540-548 peptide and CMV 495 peptide portions of the vaccine.

Patients receive telomerase: 540-548 peptide and CMV 495 peptide (as an immunological control) vaccine emulsified in Montanide ISA-51 subcutaneously (SC) followed by sargramostim (GM-CSF) SC on day 1 of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 15, 19, and 27 (for a total of 8 vaccinations). Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 5-8 patients receive escalating doses of telomerase: 540-548 peptide and CMV 495 peptide until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 5 or 2 of 8 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. A total of 12 patients receive treatment at the MTD.

Patients are followed within 30 days and then at 6 and 12 months.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Susan Domchek, MD, Principal investigator
Ph: 215-615-3360
Email: susan.domchek@uphs.upenn.edu

Trial Sites

U.S.A.
Pennsylvania
  Philadelphia
 Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
 Clinical Trials Office - Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Ph: 800-474-9892

Registry Information
Official Title Phase I Study Of Telomerase Peptide Vaccination For Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer
Trial Start Date 2004-02-04
Trial Completion Date 2008-05-30 (estimated)
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00079157
Date Submitted to PDQ 2004-01-14
Information Last Verified 2007-06-26
NCI Grant/Contract Number P30-CA16520

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.

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