Prospective Randomized Comparative Study of Cell Transfer Therapy Using CD8+-Enriched Short-Term Cultured Anti-Tumor Autologous Lymphocytes Following a Non-Myeloablative Lymphocyte Depleting Chemotherapy Regimen Compared to High-Dose Aldesleukin in M...

Condition(s) targeted: Skin Cancer; Melanoma; Metastatic Melanoma

Intervention: Aldesleukin (Biological); CD8 enriched Young TIL (Biological)

Phase: Phase 2

Status: Recruiting

Sponsored by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Overall contact:
Recruitment Center - SB, Phone: (866) 820-4505, Email: ncisbirc@mail.nih.gov

Background:

- Adoptive cell therapy involves taking white blood cells called lymphocytes from patients'

tumors, growing them in the laboratory in large numbers, and then giving the cells back to the patient to allow the cells to attack the tumor. Because this process is lengthy and difficult to perform, researchers have been developing improved means of performing adoptive cell therapy. Researchers are now interested in comparing adoptive cell therapy with the standard treatment for metastatic melanoma (skin cancer).

Objectives:

- To compare the effectiveness of adoptive cell therapy with standard high-dose aldesleukin

as a treatment for metastatic melanoma.

Eligibility:

- Individuals 18 years of age or older who have been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma

and have not previously received aldesleukin therapy or cell therapy for their disease.

- Participants must have at least one tumor that can be easily removed as part of the

treatment procedure.

Design:

- Participants will be screened with a full medical history, physical examination, blood

and urine tests, and imaging scans to evaluate tumor size and treatment options.

- Participants will be separated into two groups, in which one group will have adoptive

cell therapy and one will have aldesleukin treatment.

- Adoptive Cell Therapy

- Participants will have a tumor sample taken in order to collect white blood cells

for treatment. Participants whose tumors do not provide sufficient white blood cells may be switched to the aldesleukin-only treatment group.

- The white blood cells will be grown in the laboratory for several weeks.

- Prior to receiving cell therapy, participants will receive chemotherapy for 7 days

to improve the chances of successful treatment.

- Participants will have cell therapy followed by high-dose aldesleukin treatment

every 8 hours for up to 5 days. This treatment will be followed by 1 to 2 weeks of recovery time as an inpatient at the clinical center.

- Participants will be evaluated at 12 weeks following the start of the study, every

2 to 3 months for the first year, every 6 months for the next 5years, and then yearly thereafter..

- Standard Aldesleukin Treatment

- Participants will have high-dose aldesleukin treatment every 8 hours for up to 5

days (one cycle of treatment), and will have a second cycle of treatment 7 to 10 days after the first cycle.

- If tests show that the tumors have grown, participants will be offered the chance

to have additional cycles of aldesleukin, or begin a cell therapy treatment.

- Participants will be evaluated at 12 weeks following the start of the study, every 2 to

3 months for the first year, every 6 months for the next 5years, and then yearly thereafter.

Official title: Prospective Randomized Comparative Study of Cell Transfer Therapy Using Short-Term Cultured Anti-Tumor Autologous Lymphocytes Following a Non-Myeloablative Lymphocyte Depleting Chemotherapy Regimen Compared to High-dose Aldesleukin in Metastatic Melanoma

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Primary outcome: To compare in a prospective randomized trial the response rate and progression free survival in patients with metastatic melanoma receiving adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapy compared to standard high-dose aldesleukin treatment.

Secondary outcome: To determine survival in patients in the two treatment arms, and to determine toxicity of these two treatment regimens.

Detailed description: Background:

- Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) can mediate the regression of bulky metastatic

melanoma when administered to the autologous patient along with high-dose aldesleukin (IL-2) following a non-myeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy preparative regimen.

- Although this adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has been shown capable of mediating objective

clinical responses in patients with metastatic melanoma, including patients who have previously been treated with aldesleukin or chemotherapy, the treatment is only available in the Surgery Branch, NCI and in just one or two other institutions in the United States.

- Despite our reports of the objective regressions in patients receiving ACT, doubts have

been raised concerning the possible influence of patient selection bias that may have accounted for the increase in survival using ACT compared to historical controls.

- ACT is a cumbersome and labor intensive procedure which has discouraged many from

applying it. We have recently developed simplifications in the technique for generating TIL that are also capable of mediating objective responses.

- To evaluate the efficacy of ACT we are now proposing a prospective randomized trial to

compare this form of therapy with standard available treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma.

Objectives:

- To determine, in a prospective randomized trial, the response rate and progression free

survival of patients with metastatic melanoma receiving either ACT or standard high-dose aldesleukin treatment.

- Survival rate will be evaluated as a secondary endpoint.

- To determine the toxicity of these two treatment regimens.

Eligibility:

Patients who are 18 years of age or older must have:

- Evaluable metastatic melanoma;

- No prior treatment with high-dose aldesleukin (greater than or equal to 600,000 IU IL-2

q8h or the equivalent)

- No contraindications to high-dose aldesleukin administration;

- No concurrent major medical illnesses or any form of immunodeficiency;

- Lesions of at least 2cm in diameter that can be surgically removed with minimal

morbidity.

Design:

- Prior to amendment D, patients with metastatic melanoma lesions that can be resected

with minimal morbidity will be prospectively randomized to receive either ACT using CD8+ young TIL (arm 2) and aldesleukin (arm 1) following a non-myeloablative chemotherapy preparative regimen, or will receive standard high-dose aldesleukin therapy.

- With the approval of amendment D, arm 1 and 2 will be closed, and two new arms will be

opened. Patients with metastatic melanoma lesions that can be resected with minimal morbidity will be prospectively randomized to receive either ACT using young TIL (arm 4) and aldesleukin (arm 3) following a non-myeloablative chemotherapy preparative regimen, or will receive standard high-dose aldesleukin therapy.

- Response rate and time to progression will be evaluated for all patients on an

intent-to-treat basis.

- Patients may crossover to the other treatment arm after progressive disease is

documented by RECIST criteria, if still eligible.

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

- INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Measurable metastatic melanoma with at least one lesion that is resectable for TIL generation. The lesion must be of at least 2cm in diameter that can be surgically removed with minimal morbidity (defined as any operation for which expected hospitalization is less than or equal to 7 days).

2. Patients with 3 or less brain metastases are eligible. Note: If lesions are symptomatic or greater than or equal to 1 cm each, these lesions must have been treated and stable for 3 months for the patient to be eligible.

3. No prior high-dose aldesleukin therapy at a dose of greater than or equal to 600,000 IU/kg.

4. Greater than or equal to 18 years of age.

5. Willing to practice birth control during treatment and for four months after receiving all protocol related therapy.

6. Life expectancy of greater than three months.

7. Willing to sign a durable power of attorney.

8. Able to understand and sign the Informed Consent Document.

9. Clinical performance status of ECOG 0 or 1.

10. Hematology:

- Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1000/mm3 without support of filgrastim

- Normal WBC (> 3000/mm(3)).

- Hemoglobin greater than 8. 0 g/dl

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm(3)

k. Serology:

- Seronegative for HIV antibody. (The experimental treatment being evaluated in this

protocol depends on an intact immune system. Patients who are HIV seropositive can have decreased immune competence and thus be less responsive to the experimental treatment and more susceptible to its toxicities.)

- Seronegative for hepatitis B antigen, or hepatitis C antibody or antigen.

l. Chemistry:

- Serum ALT/AST less than three times the upper limit of normal.

- Calculated creatinine clearance (eGFR) > 50 ml/min.

- Total bilirubin less than or equal to 2 mg/dl, except in patients with Gilbert's

Syndrome who must have a total bilirubin less than 3 mg/dl.

m. More than four weeks must have elapsed since any prior systemic therapy at the time the time of randomization, and patients' toxicities must have recovered to a grade 1 or less (except for alopecia or vitiligo). Patients must have stable or progressing disease after prior treatment. Patients may have undergone minor surgical procedures within the past 3 weeks, as long as all toxicities have recovered to grade 1 or less or as specified in the eligibility criteria.

n. Six weeks must have elapsed since any prior anti-CTLA4 antibody therapy to allow antibody levels to decline.

o. Patients who have previously received any anti-CTLA4 antibody and have documented GI toxicity must have a normal colonoscopy with normal colonic biopsies.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Prior cell transfer therapy which included a non-myeloablative or myeloablative chemotherapy regimen.

2. Women of child-bearing potential who are pregnant or breastfeeding because of the potentially dangerous effects of the preparative chemotherapy on the fetus or infant.

3. Systemic steroid therapy requirement.

4. Active systemic infections, coagulation disorders or other active major medical illnesses of the cardiovascular, respiratory or immune system, as evidenced by a positive stress thallium or comparable test, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease.

5. Any form of primary immunodeficiency (such as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease and AIDS).

6. Opportunistic infections (The experimental treatment being evaluated in this protocol depends on an intact immune system. Patients who have decreased immune competence may be less responsive to the experimental treatment and more susceptible to its toxicities.)

7. History of severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction to any of the agents used in this study.

8. History of coronary revascularization or ischemic symptoms.

9. Any patient known to have an LVEF less than or equal to 45%.

10. In patients > 60 years old, documented LVEF of less than or equal to 45%.

11. Documented FEV1 less than or equal to 60% predicted tested in patients with:

- A prolonged history of cigarette smoking

- Symptoms of respiratory dysfunction

Recruitment Center - SB, Phone: (866) 820-4505, Email: ncisbirc@mail.nih.gov

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States; Recruiting

NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Related publications:

Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, Murray T, Xu J, Thun MJ. Cancer statistics, 2007. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007 Jan-Feb;57(1):43-66.

Atkins MB, Kunkel L, Sznol M, Rosenberg SA. High-dose recombinant interleukin-2 therapy in patients with metastatic melanoma: long-term survival update. Cancer J Sci Am. 2000 Feb;6 Suppl 1:S11-4.

Kirkwood MW, Yeates KO, Taylor HG, Randolph C, McCrea M, Anderson VA. Management of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury: a neuropsychological review from injury through recovery. Clin Neuropsychol. 2008 Sep;22(5):769-800. Epub 2007 Sep 1. Review.

Starting date: April 2010
Last updated: November 16, 2011