myDC/pDC in Stage III Melanoma Patients

This is an interventional study to test the immunogenicity of combined adjuvant myDC and pDC vaccination versus adjuvant myDC or pDC vaccination alone in stage III melanoma patients.

Stage lll melanoma patients will receive pDC (arm A, n=10), myDC (arm B, n=10) or combined pDC/myDC (arm C, n=10). Subsequent vaccinations will be performed according to the protocol: 2 biweekly vaccinations of intranodal injections with pDC, myDC or the combination with pDC and myDC. After each vaccination the investigators will examine peripheral blood for proliferative and humoral KLH immune responses. After the vaccinations, a DTH with peptide loaded blood DC is performed from which biopsies are taken for T cell analysis. lf patients remain disease free, the investigators will repeat this cycle with a 6 months interval up to a total of three cycles. lf a tumor recurrence occurs a biopsy will be taken for laboratory evaluation.

Type I IFN gene expression in PBMC shortly after vaccination. The occurrence of the type I IFN response in patients will be compared between the arms.

Proliferative, effector cytokine and humoral responses to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).The occurrence of the response will be compared between the arms.

Functional response and tetramer analysis of DTH infiltrating T cells against tumor peptides. The occurrence of the response will be compared between the arms.

biodistribution/localization of the injected labeled pDC and/or myDC in the resected lymph node by multiple techniques

Inclusion Criteria: stage III melanoma WHO performance status 0-1 radical lymph node dissection is schedule or performed within 12 weeks prior to start of study treatment Exclusion Criteria: irresectable disease any concurrent adjuvant therapy concomitant use of oral immunosuppressive drugs autoimmune diseases