Dendritic Cell Vaccination for Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission

Plain-language summary

This study examined a vaccine made by injecting antigen-loaded dendritic cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in remission. It was open to patients aged 18 and older with an AML diagnosis, WT1 overexpression, at least one prior chemotherapy, and a high risk of relapse. Run by University Hospital, Antwerp, the study was conducted in Phase 1 and has been completed.

The summary above is a plain-language rendering of the official record. The original English title is shown for reference.

Trial details

Phase

Phase 1

Status

Completed

Sponsor

University Hospital, Antwerp

Intervention

injection of antigen-loaded cultured dendritic cells

Start date

3/1/2005

Estimated completion

12/1/2008

Countries

Belgium

Related genes

Locations

• Edegem, Belgium

Eligibility criteria

Criteria are reproduced from the ClinicalTrials.gov record in the original English. Only the trial team can determine eligibility.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Tumor type: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) according to the WHO criteria (ea at least 20% blasts in the marrow). All FAB subtypes except M3. Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, category of Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts (RAEB): RAEB I (WHO: medullary blast count ≤ 10% and a peripheral blast count ≤ 5%) and RAEB II (WHO: medullary blast count \> 10% and/or \> 5% peripheral blasts) can be included in the study in absence of other non-experimental treatment modalities.
2. Extent of disease: remission (partial or complete) or smouldering course. Complete remission (CR) is defined as no blasts in the peripheral blood and no more than 5% blasts in the bone marrow. This definition is related to the hematological remission if it is not specified. Partial remission (PR) is defined as a decrease of at least 50% in the percentage of blasts to 5 to 25% in the bone marrow aspirate. Smouldering course is defined as a relatively low marrow blast count and slowly progressive disease.
3. Overexpression of WT1 RNA (\>50 copies of WT1 per 1000 copies ABL in bone marrow or \>2 copy/1000 copies ABL in peripheral blood) as assessed by quantitative RT-PCR at the time of presentation.
4. Prior treatments : Patients must have received at least one prior antileukemic chemotherapeutic regimen and must be more than 1 month past the last treatment and/or 6 months past allogeneic/autologous stem cell transplantation.
5. Age: ≥ 18 years
6. High risk of relapse because of (and/or)

   * Age \> 60 years (if \<60 y, no sibling allotransplant donor available)
   * Poor risk cytogenetic or molecular markers at presentation
   * Hyperleukocytosis at presentation
   * Second complete remission after relapse
7. Performance status: WHO PS grade 0-1 (Appendix B)
8. Objectively assessable parameters of life expectancy: more than 3 months
9. Prior and concomitant associated diseases allowed with the exception of underlying autoimmune disease and positive serology for HIV/HBV/HCV
10. No concomitant use of immunosuppressive drugs
11. Adequate renal and liver function, i.e. creatinin and bilirubin = 1.2 times the upper limit of normal
12. Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial
13. Women of child-bearing potential should use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects with concurrent additional malignancy (with exception of Non-melanoma skin cancers and carcinoma in situ of the cervix)
2. Subjects who are pregnant
3. Subjects who have sensitivity to drugs that provide local anesthesia
4. Age \< 18 years