Earlier the investigators determined the safety and feasibility of tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells as therapeutic adjuvants in mesothelioma patients. Because pre-clinical data in mice had shown that better results were obtained when regulatory T cells were depleted using low-dosis of cyclophosphamide, ten patients who responded on chemotherapy are selected for DC-treatment in combination with Endoxan.
Currently there is no satisfactory low-toxicity treatment for patients with mesothelioma (MM). Based on studies in other types of cancer in humans where beneficial effects were obtained, and based on our pre-clinical data in a mouse model for MM, led to the introduction of DC-immunotherapy for human MM in 2005. A beneficial effect of immunotherapy in MM patients without major side effects was found, however, research has shown that DC immunotherapy might be further improved. The objectives of the here proposed phase study are: * To define the safety and toxicity of low dose CTX in combination with MesoCancerVac in patients with MM. * To determine if vaccination with low dose CTX in combination with MesoCancerVac results in a detectable immune response by skin DTH reactions on MM crude antigen and KLH and by in vitro laboratory analysis. * To observe and document anti-cancer activity by laboratory evaluation (e.g. decrease in Tregs, increase in CTLs using 51Cr release and IFN-gamma ELISPOT) * To observe and document anti-cancer activity by clinical evaluation (e.g. CT scan)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
3x 50x10e6 DC + cyclophosphamide
Erasmus Medical Center
Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands
number of cytotoxic T cells and regulatory T cells in the blood of patients
2 weeks before, inbetween (2-weekly, 3 times) and 2 weeks after DC treatment, 7 ml blood samples are collected.
Time frame: up to 1 year
safety and toxicity
Time frame: up to 2 years
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