Vaccine Therapy, GM-CSF, and Interferon Alfa-2b in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancer That Expresses Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)

Adult Solid Neoplasm Clinical Trial

Official title: A Phase I Study of Sequential Vaccinations With Fowlpox-CEA(6D)-Tricom (B7.1/ICAM/LFA3) and Vaccinia-CEA (6D)-Tricom, in Combination With GM-CSF and Interferon-Alfa-2B in Patients With CEA-Expressing Carcinomas

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of interferon alfa-2b when given together with vaccine therapy and GM-CSF in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer that makes CEA. Vaccines made from a gene-modified virus may help the body build an effective immune response to kill cancer cells that make carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Biological therapies, such as GM-CSF, may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop cancer cells from growing. Interferon alfa-2b may interfere with the growth of cancer cells and slow cancer growth. Giving vaccine therapy together with GM-CSF and interferon alfa-2b may kill more cancer cells that make CEA.

Clinical Trial Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase II dose of interferon alfa-2b (IFN-α-2b) when administered with recombinant vaccinia-CEA(6D)-TRICOM vaccine, recombinant fowlpox-CEA(6D)-TRICOM vaccine, and sargramostim (GM-CSF) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-expressing carcinoma.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the effect of IFN-α-2b on tumor cell expression of CEA and MHC class I antigens in patients treated with this regimen.

II. Determine the immunologic effects of this regimen in these patients. III. Determine any objective anti-tumor responses that may occur in response to this regimen in these patients.

IV. Determine the time to tumor progression in patients treated with this regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of interferon alfa-2b (IFN-α-2b).

COURSE I: Patients receive recombinant vaccinia-CEA(6D)-TRICOM vaccine subcutaneously (SC) on day 1. Patients also receive sargramostim (GM-CSF) SC on days 1-4 and IFN-α-2b* SC on days 9, 11, and 13.

COURSES II-IV: Patients receive recombinant fowlpox-CEA(6D)-TRICOM vaccine SC on day 1. Patients also receive GM-CSF as in course 1 and IFN-α-2b* SC on days 1, 3, and 5.

NOTE: *The initial cohort of 6 patients does not receive IFN-α-2b.

Treatment repeats every 28 days for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After 4 courses, patients who do not have progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity may receive recombinant fowlpox-CEA (6D)-TRICOM vaccine, GM-CSF, and IFN-α-2b every 28 days for 2 more courses and then every 3 months for up to 2 years.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of IFN-α-2b until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Six additional patients are treated at the MTD; these patients must be HLA-A2 positive.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed monthly for 4 months and then every 6-12 months for up to 15 years. ;

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Safety Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Adult Solid Neoplasm

• NCT number: NCT00217373
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: June 2005
• Completion date: March 2015