In-Situ Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine for Refractory Liver Cancer

Clinical Trial Summary

This study is an individualized anti-cancer vaccine protocol where the vaccination occurs inside of the body. To create the vaccine, a tumor lesion is selected and caused to die by a process called "Radiofrequency Ablation" or RFA. RFA causes the tumor to release its internal contents to the surrounding environment, such contents include tumor-specific antigens. Immune cells respond to the tissue damage and take-up these tumor antigens. The injection of the experimental cell drug, AlloStim(TM) into the lesion is designed to cause the responding cells to signal the immune system of the danger of the tumor, creating tumor-specific immunity.

The protocol design has 4 steps: (1) priming; (2) vaccination, (3) activation and (4) boosting. The priming step involves intradermal injections of AlloStim(TM). This is designed to increase the circulating titer of allo-specific Th1 memory cells; the vaccination step involves percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of a single liver lesion followed immediately with an intratumoral injection of AlloStim(TM) into the ablated lesion, followed 3 days later by an additional intratumoral injection into the previously ablated lesion with AlloStim(TM). This step is designed to elicit tumor-specific Th1 immunity. The activation step involves intravenous infusions of AlloStim(TM). This step is designed to cause the activation and extravasation of circulating memory cells and the activation of innate immune cells. The booster step includes two monthly IV infusions of AlloStim(TM). This step is designed to maintain an inflammatory cytokine storm designed to counteract immune suppressor mechanisms and tumor immunoavoidance mechanisms. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Carcinoma
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
• Hepatocellular Carcinoma