Phase I Vaccination Trial in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma Using IKKb-matured Dendritic Cells Loaded With Autologous Tumor-RNA + RNA Coding for Defined Antigens and Driver Mutations

Intravenous infusion of 7.5 to 30 mio DCIKKb at 9 vaccination time points (week 1, 3, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, 37 and 42) and in intervals of 2, 4, and 6 intervals of 6 weeks) is scheduled; the first 4 patients will receive reduced doses for the first 4 vaccinations, namely 7.5 mio (1st and 2nd vaccination) and 15 mio (3rd and 4th vaccination) DC followed by the full dose of 30 mio for subsequent vaccinations. Patients number 5 to 8 will receive initially reduced doses of 15 mio (1st and 2nd vaccination) DC for the first 2 vaccinations, and the full dose of 30 mio for subsequent vaccinations. Patients number 8 to 12 will receive the full dose of 30 mio cells from vaccination 1 onwards provided that no major side effects occurred. Patients will be vaccinated in a staggered approach by selectively decelerating release of the vaccine.

DCIKKb = autologous, monocyte-derived DC that are matured with the standard cocktail (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and PGE2) and IKKb-RNA loaded by electroporation with 1) autologous PCR-amplified total tumor mRNA, 2) RNA coding for defined tumor associated antigens (TAA) namely gp100, tyrosinase, PRAME, MAGE-A3, IDO) and 3) RNA coding for driver mutations (GNAQ/GNA11Q209 or R183, or the less frequently occurring SF3B1R625, CYSLTR2L129Q or PLCB4D630) by electroporation; RNAs for selected TAAs are in stock and will be transfected into the DCs only if expressed in the individual tumor of a patient (shown by RNA sequencing of the tumor); RNAs for selected driver mutations are in stock and will be loaded into the DCs only if the respective mutation is found (proven by exome and RNA sequencing) in the individual tumor.