Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma
Melanoma (Skin)
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Melanoma (Skin) focused on measuring stage IV melanoma, recurrent melanoma
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage IV melanoma Must have tumor tissue available for determining antigen expression At least 10% of tumor cells must stain positive for Melan-A/Mart-1 by immunohistochemistry HLA-A2 positive No brain metastases unless completely resected or without evidence of disease after treatment PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: More than 3 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Hepatitis C antibody negative Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Urea no greater than 2.6 times ULN Other: Not pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant within 6 months of treatment completion Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No medical, sociological, or psychological impediments that would preclude study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior immunomodulatory drugs No other concurrent immunotherapy No concurrent immunomodulatory drugs Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior systemic corticosteroids No concurrent systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs No other concurrent investigational drugs
Sites / Locations
- Arizona Cancer Center at University of Arizona Health Sciences Center
- USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital
- Cancer Research Center at Boston Medical Center
- Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute at Providence Portland Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
Cohort 1
Cohort 2
Cohort 3
The first cohort of 6 patients received 500 ug of Synchrovax SEM plasmid DNA vaccine. All patients were to be monitored for dose limiting toxicities DLTs) for a minimum of 2 weeks after their second infusion of vaccine on Day 15 before allowing patients to enroll at the next dose group. The decision to progress to the next dose group was to be based on occurrence of DLTs observed in 1 or fewer (<33%) patients of a 6 patient cohort.
The second cohort of 6 patients received 1000 ug of Synchrovax SEM plasmid DNA vaccine. All patients were to be monitored for dose limiting toxicities DLTs) for a minimum of 2 weeks after their second infusion of vaccine on Day 15 before allowing patients to enroll at the next dose group. The decision to progress to the next dose group was to be based on occurrence of DLTs observed in 1 or fewer (<33%) patients of a 6 patient cohort.
The third cohort of 6 patients received 1500 ug of Synchrovax SEM plasmid DNA vaccine. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was to be determined by the observation of DLT at each dose group.