In the first part of this study we found the highest dose of the vaccine that did not have too many side effects. We are now trying to find out what effects the vaccine has when given at the same dose to all patients. The main treatment in this protocol is a vaccine. It is called a " bivalent vaccine" which means it has 2 antigens. An antigen is a specific protein on the surface of a cell. The antigens are called GD2L and GD3L. We want the vaccine to cause the patient's immune system to make antibodies against the antigens. Antibodies are made by the body to attack cancer (and to fight infections). If the patient can make antibodies against the 2 antigens in the vaccine, those antibodies might also attach to neuroblastoma cells because a lot of each antigen is on neuroblastoma (and very little on other parts of the body). Then, the attached antibodies would attract the patient's white blood cells to kill the neuroblastoma. This protocol also uses β-glucan which is a kind of sugar from yeast. β-glucan is taken by mouth and can help white blood cells kill cancer. The best way to get the body to make antibodies against the 2 antigens is to link each antigen to a protein called KLH (which stands for: keyhole limpet hemocyanin) and to mix them with a substance called QS-21. But it is hard to get enough QS-21 so we are using an identical substance called OPT-821, which we can get easily in large amounts for use in patients.
The phase II treatment schema for patients in 1st CR or ≥ 2nd CR will be the same for the vaccine as in phase I except OPT-821 will be given at a fixed dose of 150 mcg/ m\^2 and with no DLT assessment. Patients will be randomized to starting oral β-glucan in week 1 or in week 6.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
374
Pts receive a total of 7 subcutaneous injections, at weeks 1, 2, 3, 8, 20, 32, \& 52. Minor schedule adjustments are permitted, as needed. Vaccines must occur a minimum of 6 days apart. Induction of antibody response against the target antigens will be assessed. A fixed dose of oral β-glucan (40 mg/kg/day) is started at week 6 or 7(to allow time for generation of antibodies), \& continued as approximately 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, up to 1 cycle after the last vaccination. Neutrophils will be tested for glucan effects on cytotoxicity. Antineuroblastoma activity will be monitored using standard radiographic \& bone marrow studies, as well as RT-PCR for measurement of minimal residual disease in blood \& bone marrow. Phase II treatment schema for patients in 1st CR/VGPR or \>2nd CR/VGPR will be the same for the vaccine as in phase I except OPT-821 will be given at a fixed dose of 150 mcg/m2.
Phase II Patients will be randomized to starting oral β-glucan (40 mg/kg/day) in week 1 or in week 6.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, United States
To determine the maximally tolerated dose of OPT-821 in a vaccine containing two antigens abundantly expressed on neuroblastoma. (PHASE I)
Time frame: 2 years
To assess anti-NB activity of the bivalent vaccine plus oral β-glucan in patients who are enrolled with evidence of minimal residual disease (MRD) by molecular biological testing of bone marrow. (PHASE II)
Time frame: 2 years
To prove the adjuvant effect of oral beta-glucan on anti-GD2 antibody titer among patients who are in first or second (or later) complete
Time frame: 2 years
To obtain preliminary data on whether subcutaneous administration of the bivalent vaccine produces an immune response directed against the target antigens in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. (PHASE I)
Time frame: 2 years
To obtain preliminary data on the anti-neuroblastoma activity of the bivalent vaccine plus oral β-glucan in patients, including measuring the molecular response in blood and bone marrow. (PHASE I)
Time frame: 2 years
To obtain data on the immune response directed against the target NB-associated antigens in patients as induced by the subcutaneous administration of the bivalent vaccine. (PHASE II)
Time frame: 2 years
To assess FcRIIa, FcRIIIa, CR3 and CD18 gene polymorphism of leukocytes (effector cells), with a view towards a possible association with outcome. (PHASE II)
Time frame: 2 years
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