Combination Immunotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Myeloma



Status:Completed
Conditions:Blood Cancer, Hematology
Therapuetic Areas:Hematology, Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 80
Updated:12/21/2018
Start Date:April 2011
End Date:December 2018

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Phase II Combination Immunotherapy After ASCT for Advanced Myeloma to Study MAGE-A3 Immunizations With Hiltonol® (Poly-ICLC) Plus Transfer of Vaccine-Primed Autologous T Cells Followed by Lenalidomide Maintenance

One purpose of this study is to find out if a new combination of immune system treatments
(MAGE-A3 vaccine plus activated T-cells) will allow the body to build up protection
("immunity") against the myeloma cells. A second purpose is to find out how well this
combination of immune system treatments is able to control the myeloma.

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) can lead to a complete or partial disappearance of the
myeloma in about 2 out of 3 patients. However, an ASCT only sometimes leads to a cure of the
myeloma. In about half the patients the myeloma comes back after about 1-2 years. In about
90% of patients it comes back by about 10 years after transplant.

One possible way to improve upon the results of ASCT for myeloma is to help the body's
defense or immune system recover faster after transplant. Another way is to teach the body's
immune system to fight against the myeloma cells.

In two earlier research studies which included more than 100 patients, certain types of
immune cells called "T cells" or "T lymphocytes" were taken out of a patient's body using a
procedure called "apheresis". These cells were then grown up in the lab. After the
transplant, these T cells were put back into the patients. The replaced T cells helped the
patients'immune systems to recover faster after the transplant. In addition, when the T cells
were given back to patients they also received a vaccination. The vaccination or injection
was for a certain type of pneumonia germ called "pneumococcus". We found that most patients
built up protection against this pneumonia-causing germ. In another study, we used a possible
myeloma cancer vaccine. However, we found that less than half the patients responded to this
vaccine.

In this new study, we want to test a different type of myeloma cancer vaccine. This different
cancer vaccine is based on a protein called MAGE-A3. The MAGE-A3 protein is found in about
50% of cases of myeloma. This vaccine consists of small pieces of protein (called "peptides")
which come from the MAGE-A3 protein. In order to help the immune system respond better we
will add two new steps. First we will add an immune system stimulant called "Hiltonol®" to
each vaccination. Hiltonol® is a chemical substance that turns on several parts of the immune
system. It may make the immune system better able to respond to the vaccine. It has been
tested in several hundred patients and has been used with about a dozen different types of
cancer and germ vaccines. Second, starting about 100 days after the transplant procedure,
patients will get a medicine called Lenalidomide. Lenalidomide is already approved by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of myeloma. In this study, we want to know
whether Lenalidomide could help to improve the body's ability to respond to the vaccinations
and help to treat the myeloma itself.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Written informed consent

- Patients must be registered with the Sponsor's Monitor

- Patients must have a diagnosis of myeloma

- Patients must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Myeloma has relapsed, progressed, or failed to respond after at least one prior
course of therapy (consisting of at least 2 treatment cycles or months of
therapy).

2. Myeloma has responded partially to initial therapy but a complete response
(immunofixation negative and normal serum free light chain studies)has NOT
developed after a minimum of 3 cycles or months of initial therapy.

3. Myeloma has high-risk features as defined by the presence of one or more
cytogenetic abnormalities known to confer a poor outcome even after standard
autotransplants:complex karyotype (> or = to 3
abnormalities),t(4;14),t(14;16),del (17)(p13.1),and/or chromosome 13
abnormalities.

- Patients must have measurable disease on study entry

- Patients must be between ages 18-80 (inclusive).

- Patients should have adequate vital organ function as defined by the protocol.

- ECOG performance status 0-2 (unless due solely to bone pain)

- Prior to Lenalidomide maintenance phase, all study participants must be registered
into the mandatory RevAssist® program, and be willing and able to comply with the
requirements of RevAssist®.

- Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy
test as per the protocol

- Lenalidomide treatment phase: able to take aspirin (81 or 325 mg) daily as
prophylactic anticoagulation (patients intolerant to ASA may use warfarin or low
molecular weight heparin).

Exclusion Criteria:

- Pregnant or nursing females

- HIV or HTLV-1/2 seropositivity

- Known history of myelodysplasia

- Known history of chronic active hepatitis or liver cirrhosis (if suspected by
laboratory studies, should be confirmed by liver biopsy).

- Active Hepatitis B (as defined by + Hepatitis B surface antigen); + Hepatitis C virus
(HCV) antibody is NOT an exclusion

- Prior autotransplant or allogeneic transplant

- More than 4 distinct, prior courses of therapy for myeloma

- History of severe autoimmune disease requiring steroids or other immunosuppressive
treatments.

- Active immune-mediated diseases including:connective tissue diseases,
uveitis,sarcoidosis,inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis.

- Evidence or history of other significant cardiac,hepatic,renal,
ophthalmologic,psychiatric,or gastrointestinal disease which would likely increase the
risks of participating in the study

- Active bacterial, viral or fungal infections.
We found this trial at
2
sites
3400 Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
(215) 662-6065
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania The Abramson Cancer Center of the University...
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Philadelphia, PA
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22 South Greene Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
410-328-7904
University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer...
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Baltimore, MD
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