Biological Vaccine: Semi-allogeneic Human Fibroblasts (MRC-5) Transfected With DNA

This is an interventional treatment trial for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) focused on measuring Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Head & Neck Cancer, Vaccine, Carcinoma, Immunization, Autologous Tumor Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pathological stage I-IVa HNSCC
• The subject must have a complete removal of the primary HNSCC lesion with negative gross and microscopic margins. Documentation of margins by frozen sections at surgery is recommended. Patients who have already had surgery and have available banked tumor samples can be enrolled AFTER surgery.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Karnofsky performance status >/= 70
• Adequate hematologic function:
• Absolute neutrophil count > 1,000/mm3
• Absolute lymphocyte count > 1,000/mm3
• Hemoglobin > 9 g/dL
• Platelets > 100,000/mm3
• Liver function tests:
• Bilirubin (total) < /=1.7 mg/dL
• Alkaline phosphatase < 252 u/L
• SGOT < 108 u/L
• Kidney profile:
• Serum electrolytes
• Sodium 136-146 mEq/L
• Potassium 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
• Bicarbonate 21-31 mEq/L
• Chloride 98-107 mmol/L
• Serum creatinine < 3 x ULN
• BUN 8-26 mg/dL
• At least a 12 week interval should have elapsed between prior surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or any other treatment and the first vaccination. Patients should have recovered from surgery and adjuvant treatment.
• The effects of the tumor DNA-transfected fibroblast vaccine on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation and for 4 months after the last dose of the study vaccine, even if oral contraceptives are used. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 4 months after completion of the tumor DNA-transfected fibroblast vaccine administration.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients will be EXCLUDED from participation in the study if any of the following apply:

• One or more of the Inclusion Criteria are not met.
• A significant history or current evidence of cardiac disease including, but not limited to: congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, uncontrolled hypertension, serious arrhythmias or myocardial infarction within the previous six months.
• Evidence of ongoing or active infection requiring antibiotic therapy.
• Active intracranial metastases. Patients with previously resected intracranial disease and/or previously irradiated intracranial metastases that have been clinically stable for four weeks are eligible.
• Pregnant or lactating women. Pregnant women are excluded from this study. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test per standard of care prior to the surgery for tumor removal. A second pregnancy test must be performed 7 days prior to the first vaccination and must be negative. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated on study.
• Patients requiring systemic corticosteroids (unless patients have had no corticosteroids within 4 weeks prior to start of study).
• Autoimmune disease including, but not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematous, multiple sclerosis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
• Patients who have post-obstructive pneumonia or other serious infection at the time of registration or other serious underlying medical condition that would impair the ability of the patient to receive protocol treatment.
• No prior malignancy is allowed except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other cancer from which the patient has been disease-free for at least 5 years prior to registration.
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• HIV-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy are excluded from the study. HIV testing will be performed in patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy when indicated per medical records review.
• Patients with clinical symptoms of Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C will be tested, if clinically indicated per medical records review. Positive results will be an exclusion criteria