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CompletedNCT00001566Updated Jun 15, 2012Results posted

A Pilot Study of Autologous T-Cell Transplantation With Vaccine Driven Expansion of Anti-Tumor Effectors After Cytoreductive Therapy in Metastatic Pediatric Sarcomas

A Phase 2 interventional study of therapeutic autologous dendritic cells and indinavir sulfate in Ewing's Sarcoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma, sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 5 Years to 35 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2012-06-15.

Sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
42
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
5 Years to 35 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a single arm study.

The tumor specimen is analyzed for the presence of a fusion protein which corresponds to available peptides. Patients undergo T cell harvest 10 days after an initial priming peptide-pulsed antigen presenting cell (APC) vaccine is performed.

Fresh APCs are utilized for initial priming vaccination. All subsequent vaccinations will use cryopreserved APCs. Minimum number of APCs administered per vaccination is 100,000/kg and maximum is 100,000,000/kg.

Patients undergo cytoreductive therapy for the treatment of their particular malignancy. This therapy usually consists of multiagent chemotherapy in the context of a separate protocol.

Following chemotherapy, infusion of harvested T cells followed by infusion of peptide-pulsed APC vaccinations occurs every 6 weeks for a total of 3 post-priming vaccinations. Influenza vaccine is administered by intramuscular injection concurrent to peptide-pulsed APC vaccines.

Interleukin -2 (IL-2) is administered as a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion for 4 days/week for 3 successive weeks starting on the same day as T cell /peptide-pulsed infusions.

Read the detailed description

Eradication of low tumor burdens can occur in vivo when T-cell mediated responses are generated against specific tumor antigens. The Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (AR) display several features which make them candidate diseases for trials of such immunotherapy. First, intensive cytotoxic chemotherapy is generally able to eradicate bulk disease in patients with metastatic disease, but tumor relapse eventually occurs in nearly all patients. Second, tumor-specific chromosomal translocations resulting in the production of novel fusion proteins have been identified in the great majority of these tumors. Peptides derived from these fusion proteins have been shown to function as tumor antigens for cytolytic T cells in animal studies. Third, studies of immune reconstitution after intensive cytotoxic therapy have provided evidence that antigen-specific T cells can be generated in vivo when the adoptive transfer of peripheral T cells and antigen are provided during the period of T cell regeneration. This process can be augmented in murine models by the use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) active protease inhibitor, indinavir, potentially through inhibition of programmed cell death in expanding T cells. Merging these concepts, this protocol will attempt to eradicate minimal residual disease in pediatric patients with metastatic ESFT and AR via vaccination with tumor-specific peptides undertaken concomitant with autologous T cell transplantation and indinavir.

02

Conditions studied

  • Ewing's Sarcoma
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma

Keywords

  • Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • Ewing's Sarcoma
  • Immunotherapy
  • Tumor Vaccine
  • Interleukin-2
03

In context

Sarcoma

1,667 studies on the registry are indexed under Sarcoma; 393 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 42 is close to the median of 40 across 1,283 interventional studies indexed under Sarcoma.

Browse Sarcoma studies →

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the lead sponsor of 3,506 studies on the registry; 334 are open to participants now.

Of its 402 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 365 (91%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
5 Years to 35 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Patients with fusion protein bearing, metastatic malignancies of the following histologic subtypes are eligible for evaluation for treatment on this protocol: alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (AR), and Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) which includes classical, atypical and extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma, peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors, peripheral neuroepithelioma, primitive sarcoma of bone, and ectomesenchymoma. Eligibility will not be confirmed until the presence of a tumor-specific fusion protein is documented by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) which corresponds to one of the tumor-specific peptides available for vaccination.

Patients with Stage IV or metastatic disease are eligible to be enrolled on study at the time of initial presentation with tumor, prior to any cytoreductive therapy.

Alternatively, patients who have recurrent disease, but who have been remotely treated (completed all antineoplastic therapy greater than or equal to one year prior to enrollment for patients who are greater than 5 years of age, or completed all antineoplastic therapy greater than 6 months prior to enrollment for patients who are less than or equal to 5 years of age), are also eligible for enrollment prior to any subsequent cytoreductive therapy.

Patients who have received cytoreductive therapy for Stage IV or metastatic disease may be enrolled at the time of completion of cytoreductive therapy if an apheresis specimen is available which was collected and processed prior to cytotoxic therapy according to the guidelines described in the protocol Section 3.2.2.

Such products will have been obtained by apheresis at the Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH), with informed consent administered as per protocol 98-C-37, 97-C-0050 or as described on standard government request form 2626 for invasive procedures.

Patients must be less than or equal to 35 years at the time of initial diagnosis of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma or ESFT, weight greater than 10 kg at the time of apheresis. Patients between 10-15 kg must be approved by the apheresis unit in the Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) prior to enrollment on the protocol.

All patients or their legal guardians must give written informed consent indicating their understanding of the investigational nature and risks of the study.

Patients must have adequate renal function (serum creatinine (Cr) less than 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance (Cr Cl), greater than 60 ml/min./1.73 m\^2 and liver function (transaminases less than 3 times normal, bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dl). Patients will not be excluded based upon abnormal hepatic function which is related to hepatic involvement by tumor.

For remotely treated patients, a CD4 count of greater than or equal to 400 cells/mm\^3 is required.

Exclusion criteria

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Women who are pregnant or lactating.

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection due to confounding effects on immune function.

Patients with hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection will be excluded due to the untoward risks to personnel working with blood specimens.

Patients who require daily oral corticosteroid therapy for any underlying disease will be excluded.

Topical or inhaled corticosteroids are permitted.

Patients who are allergic to eggs, egg products, or thimerosal, or have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome may be enrolled on study but are ineligible to receive the influenza vaccine.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
42 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Peptide vaccine/autologous T cell transplant/indinavir therapy

    Patients receive oral indinavir sulfate 350 mg/m\^2 administered every 8 hours; maximum dose i.e. 800 mg every 8 hours; peptide pulsed dendritic cells 1 x 10\^6 injection; harvested autologous T cells (minimum dose 1 x 10\^6/kg will be thawed rapidly in 37 degree water bath and infused sequentially over 5-15 minutes.

    Biological: therapeutic autologous dendritic cells · Drug: indinavir sulfate · Procedure: peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Interventions

  • Biologicaltherapeutic autologous dendritic cells

    3 syringes containing 1 x 10\^6peptide pulsed dendritic cells

  • Drugindinavir sulfate

    Oral dose, 350 mg/m\^2 administered every 8 hours. Maximum dose is 800 mg every 8 hours.

    Also known as: Crixivan

  • Procedureperipheral blood stem cell transplantation

    Harvested autologous T cells, minimum dose 1 x 10\^6/kg will be thawed rapidly in 37 degree water bath and infused sequentially over 5-15 minutes.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Tumor-specific and Non-tumor Specific Peptides During a Period of Immune Reconstitution

    Immune response was defined as a percent specific lysis of \>10% following challenge with peptide pulsed targets, or interferon gamma production following challenge with peptide pulsed targets \>2-fold that found with no-peptide controls or a proliferation index \>3.0. Tumor specific peptides: Ewings sarcoma Type 1: EF-1 (EWS/FLI-1)\*SSSYGQQN/PSYDSVRRGA,Ewing's Sarcoma Type 2: EF-2 (EWS/FLI-2)\* SSSYGQ/QSSLLAYNT, Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: PXFK (PAX3/FKHR)† TIGNGLSPQ/NSIRHNLSL. Non-tumor specific peptide:HPV16E7 MLDLQPETT-MET-9-THR. See protocol link module for additional information re: peptides.

    Time frame: 20 weeks post vaccination

  2. The Percent of Patients Who Recover CD4 Counts Within 6 Months of Completion of Chemotherapy

    CD4 counts were measured from peripheral blood using standard flow cytometric techniques at the following timepoints: 2 months post-chemotherapy, 4 months post-chemotherapy and 6 months post-chemotherapy. To be eligible for evaluation for this endpoint, patient much have been \<10 years of age and sustained a CD4 count of \<300 cells/mcl upon completion of standard therapy. Recovery was defined as a CD4 count \> 500 cells/mcl at any timepoint within 6 months of completing chemotherapy.

    Time frame: 2 to 6 months

  3. Number of Participants With an Immune Response to the Translocation Breakpoint Peptide

    Immune responses were measured following 3 sequential influenza vaccines during the same period as the peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccines.

    Time frame: 5 years

  4. Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Non-Tumor-specific Peptide E7

    Immune response was defined as a percent specific lysis of \>10% following challenge with peptide pulsed targets, or interferon gamma production following challenge with peptide pulsed targets \>2-fold that found with no-peptide controls or a proliferation index \>3.0.

    Time frame: 5 years

  5. Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Tumor-Specific Peptides at the Time of Presentation

    Immune response was defined as a percent specific lysis of \>10% following challenge with tumor peptide pulsed targets, or interferon gamma production following challenge with tumor peptide pulsed targets \>2-fold that found with no-peptide controls or a proliferation index \>3.0 to tumor peptide targets.Tumor specific peptides: Ewings sarcoma Type 1: EF-1 (EWS/FLI-1)\*SSSYGQQN/PSYDSVRRGA,Ewing's Sarcoma Type 2: EF-2 (EWS/FLI-2)\* SSSYGQ/QSSLLAYNT, Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: PXFK (PAX3/FKHR)† TIGNGLSPQ/NSIRHNLSL. See protocol link module for additional information re: peptides.

    Time frame: Once per enrollment

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of Participants Overall Survival

    Overall survival is defined as the time between the first day of treatment to the day of death.

    Time frame: 5 years

  2. Percent of Participants: Event Free Survival

    Event free survival is calculated from the date of diagnosis for patients enrolled with newly diagnosed metastatic disease and from the date of the last recurrence detection before enrollment on this study for patients with recurrent disease.

    Time frame: 5 years

  3. Number of Participants With Adverse Events

    Here are the number of participants with adverse events. For the detailed list of adverse events see the adverse event module.

    Time frame: 5 years

  4. Median Overall Survival

    Overall survival is defined as the time between the first day of treatment to the day of death.

    Time frame: 5.4 years

07

Results

Posted Jun 12, 2012

Participant flow

42 patients were enrolled in this study.

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestonePeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Started42
Completed immunotherapy23
Completed23
Not completed19
Withdrew: Patients' choice to discontinue protocol3
Withdrew: Stopped after c3 due to symptomatic pd1
Withdrew: Death13
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up1
Withdrew: Unable to complete initial apheresis1

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants With an Immune Response to Tumor-specific and Non-tumor Specific Peptides During a Period of Immune Reconstitution

Immune response was defined as a percent specific lysis of \>10% following challenge with peptide pulsed targets, or interferon gamma production following challenge with peptide pulsed targets \>2-fold that found with no-peptide controls or a proliferation index \>3.0. Tumor specific peptides: Ewings sarcoma Type 1: EF-1 (EWS/FLI-1)\*SSSYGQQN/PSYDSVRRGA,Ewing's Sarcoma Type 2: EF-2 (EWS/FLI-2)\* SSSYGQ/QSSLLAYNT, Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: PXFK (PAX3/FKHR)† TIGNGLSPQ/NSIRHNLSL. Non-tumor specific peptide:HPV16E7 MLDLQPETT-MET-9-THR. See protocol link module for additional information re: peptides.

Time frame:
20 weeks post vaccination
Reported as:
Number · Participants
Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Tumor-specific and Non-tumor Specific Peptides During a Period of Immune Reconstitution
ParticipantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Immune response to tumor specific peptides9
Immune response to non-tumor specific peptides23
PrimaryThe Percent of Patients Who Recover CD4 Counts Within 6 Months of Completion of Chemotherapy

CD4 counts were measured from peripheral blood using standard flow cytometric techniques at the following timepoints: 2 months post-chemotherapy, 4 months post-chemotherapy and 6 months post-chemotherapy. To be eligible for evaluation for this endpoint, patient much have been \<10 years of age and sustained a CD4 count of \<300 cells/mcl upon completion of standard therapy. Recovery was defined as a CD4 count \> 500 cells/mcl at any timepoint within 6 months of completing chemotherapy.

Time frame:
2 to 6 months
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
The Percent of Patients Who Recover CD4 Counts Within 6 Months of Completion of Chemotherapy
Percentage of participantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
The Percent of Patients Who Recover CD4 Counts Within 6 Months of Completion of Chemotherapy12.5
PrimaryNumber of Participants With an Immune Response to the Translocation Breakpoint Peptide

Immune responses were measured following 3 sequential influenza vaccines during the same period as the peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccines.

Time frame:
5 years
Reported as:
Number · Participants
Number of Participants With an Immune Response to the Translocation Breakpoint Peptide
ParticipantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Number of Participants With an Immune Response to the Translocation Breakpoint Peptide9
SecondaryPercentage of Participants Overall Survival

Overall survival is defined as the time between the first day of treatment to the day of death.

Time frame:
5 years
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percentage of Participants Overall Survival
Percentage of participantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Percentage of Participants Overall Survival43
SecondaryPercent of Participants: Event Free Survival

Event free survival is calculated from the date of diagnosis for patients enrolled with newly diagnosed metastatic disease and from the date of the last recurrence detection before enrollment on this study for patients with recurrent disease.

Time frame:
5 years
Reported as:
Number · Percentage of participants
Percent of Participants: Event Free Survival
Percentage of participantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Percent of Participants: Event Free Survival31
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Adverse Events

Here are the number of participants with adverse events. For the detailed list of adverse events see the adverse event module.

Time frame:
5 years
Reported as:
Number · Participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
ParticipantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Number of Participants With Adverse Events27
PrimaryNumber of Participants With an Immune Response to Non-Tumor-specific Peptide E7

Immune response was defined as a percent specific lysis of \>10% following challenge with peptide pulsed targets, or interferon gamma production following challenge with peptide pulsed targets \>2-fold that found with no-peptide controls or a proliferation index \>3.0.

Time frame:
5 years
Reported as:
Number · Participants
Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Non-Tumor-specific Peptide E7
ParticipantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Non-Tumor-specific Peptide E73
PrimaryNumber of Participants With an Immune Response to Tumor-Specific Peptides at the Time of Presentation

Immune response was defined as a percent specific lysis of \>10% following challenge with tumor peptide pulsed targets, or interferon gamma production following challenge with tumor peptide pulsed targets \>2-fold that found with no-peptide controls or a proliferation index \>3.0 to tumor peptide targets.Tumor specific peptides: Ewings sarcoma Type 1: EF-1 (EWS/FLI-1)\*SSSYGQQN/PSYDSVRRGA,Ewing's Sarcoma Type 2: EF-2 (EWS/FLI-2)\* SSSYGQ/QSSLLAYNT, Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: PXFK (PAX3/FKHR)† TIGNGLSPQ/NSIRHNLSL. See protocol link module for additional information re: peptides.

Time frame:
Once per enrollment
Reported as:
Number · Participants
Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Tumor-Specific Peptides at the Time of Presentation
ParticipantsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Number of Participants With an Immune Response to Tumor-Specific Peptides at the Time of Presentation5
SecondaryMedian Overall Survival

Overall survival is defined as the time between the first day of treatment to the day of death.

Time frame:
5.4 years
Reported as:
Median · Years
Median Overall Survival
YearsPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Median Overall Survival4.1 (3.4 to 5.4)

Adverse events

Collected over 5 years. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Peptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy—15/42 (35.7%)27/42 (64.3%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 15
Most frequent serious events
EventPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
NeutropeniaInvestigations3/42
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders2/42
ThrombocytopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders2/42
Abdominal pain or crampingGastrointestinal disorders1/42
AnorexiaGastrointestinal disorders1/42
CPK (Creatine phosphokinase)Investigations1/42
DVT (deep vein thrombosis)Vascular disorders1/42
Elevated total bilirubinInvestigations1/42
HeadacheNervous system disorders1/42
HemorrhageBlood and lymphatic system disorders1/42
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 228
Most frequent other events
EventPeptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
FatigueGeneral disorders16/42
EosinophiliaInvestigations13/42
FeverGeneral disorders12/42
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders12/42
HeadacheNervous system disorders11/42
Nasal congestionRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders11/42
Elevated SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase)Investigations10/42
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders10/42
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders8/42
Elevated SGOT(serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase)Investigations8/42

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Peptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
<=18 years26
Between 18 and 65 years16
>=65 years0
Age Continuous
Age Continuous(years)Peptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Mean18.67 ± 8.59
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Peptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Female17
Male25
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Peptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
Hispanic or Latino2
Not Hispanic or Latino40
Unknown or Not Reported0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Peptide Vaccine/Autologous T Cell Transplant/Indinavir Therapy
United States42
08

Study locations

1 site
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
    Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Yanuck M, Carbone DP, Pendleton CD, Tsukui T, Winter SF, Minna JD, Berzofsky JA. A mutant p53 tumor suppressor protein is a target for peptide-induced CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells. Cancer Res. 1993 Jul 15;53(14):3257-61. PubMed 7686815 ↗
  • Mackall CL, Bare CV, Granger LA, Sharrow SO, Titus JA, Gress RE. Thymic-independent T cell regeneration occurs via antigen-driven expansion of peripheral T cells resulting in a repertoire that is limited in diversity and prone to skewing. J Immunol. 1996 Jun 15;156(12):4609-16. PubMed 8648103 ↗
  • Mackall CL, Fleisher TA, Brown MR, Andrich MP, Chen CC, Feuerstein IM, Horowitz ME, Magrath IT, Shad AT, Steinberg SM, et al. Age, thymopoiesis, and CD4+ T-lymphocyte regeneration after intensive chemotherapy. N Engl J Med. 1995 Jan 19;332(3):143-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199501193320303. PubMed 7800006 ↗
  • Zhang H, Chua KS, Guimond M, Kapoor V, Brown MV, Fleisher TA, Long LM, Bernstein D, Hill BJ, Douek DC, Berzofsky JA, Carter CS, Read EJ, Helman LJ, Mackall CL. Lymphopenia and interleukin-2 therapy alter homeostasis of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Nat Med. 2005 Nov;11(11):1238-43. doi: 10.1038/nm1312. Epub 2005 Oct 16. PubMed 16227988 ↗
  • Mackall CL, Rhee EH, Read EJ, Khuu HM, Leitman SF, Bernstein D, Tesso M, Long LM, Grindler D, Merino M, Kopp W, Tsokos M, Berzofsky JA, Helman LJ. A pilot study of consolidative immunotherapy in patients with high-risk pediatric sarcomas. Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Aug 1;14(15):4850-8. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-4065. PubMed 18676758 ↗
10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 15, 2012, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00001566
Lead sponsor
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
First posted
Nov 4, 1999
Start date
Dec 1996
Primary completion
Sep 2008
Completion
Sep 2008
Results posted
Jun 12, 2012
Last update
Jun 15, 2012

Study contacts

Crystal Mackall, M.D.
principal investigator · National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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