Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Patients With Brain Tumors (NCT01204684) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 2
Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Patients With Brain Tumors
United States24 participantsStarted 2010-10-08
Plain-language summary
The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the most effective immunotherapy vaccine components in patients with malignant glioma. Teh investigators previous phase I study (IRB #03-04-053) already confirmed that this vaccine procedure is safe in patients with malignant brain tumors, and with an indication of extended survival in several patients. However, the previous trial design did not allow us to test which formulation of the vaccine was the most effective. This phase II study will attempt to dissect out which components are most effective together. Dendritic cells (DC) (cells which "present" or "show" cell identifiers to the immune system) isolated from the subject's own blood will be treated with tumor-cell lysate isolated from tumor tissue taken from the same subject during surgery. This pulsing (combining) of antigen-presenting and tumor lysate will be done to try to stimulate the immune system to recognize and destroy the patient's intracranial brain tumor. These pulsed DCs will then be injected back into the patient intradermally as a vaccine. The investigators will also utilize adjuvant imiquimod or poly ICLC (interstitial Cajal-like cell) in some treatment cohorts. It is thought that the host immune system might be taught to "recognize" the malignant brain tumor cells as "foreign" to the body by effectively presenting unique tumor antigens to the host immune cells (T-cells) in vivo.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 70 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioma of WHO Grade III or IV {anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), anaplastic astro-oligodendroglioma (AO), or glioblastoma (GBM)} will be eligible for this protocol.
. Patients must have had surgical resection at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), for which a separate informed consent was signed for the collection of their tumor prior to surgery.
. After surgery, a pathological diagnosis of malignant glioma (WHO Grade III or IV) will need to be established.
. Patients must be 18 years or older and able to read and understand the informed consent document. Patients must sign the informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study.
. Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) rating of \> 60 prior to initiating treatment. Patients may be enrolled at a KPS of \< 60 if it is felt that the patient will have adequate opportunity to recover to a KPS of \> 60 by the initiation of treatment.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Most effective combination of DC vaccine components
. Inability to obtain informed consent because of psychiatric or complicating medical problems.
. Unstable or severe intercurrent medical or psychiatric conditions as determined by the Investigator.
. Females of child-bearing potential who are pregnant or lactating or who are not using approved contraception.
. History of immunodeficiency (e.g., HIV) or autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, polymyositis-dermatomyositis, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, or juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes) that may be exacerbated by immunotherapy.
. Subjects with organ allografts.
. Inability or unwillingness to return for required visits and follow-up exams.
. Subjects who have an uncontrolled systemic malignancy that is not in remission.