A Safety and Feasibility Study of Active Immunotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma Using Autologous Dendritic Cells Pulsed With Antigen Encoded in Amplified Autologous Tumor RNA

Brief Summary

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the safety and feasibility of autologous dendritic cells transfected with autologous total tumor RNA in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. * Determine the presence, frequency, and activation status of tumor specific and prostate specific antigen (PSA) specific cellular immune responses in patients treated with this regimen. * Determine delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to PSA protein and other recall antigens in patients before and after being treated with this regimen. * Determine clinical responses based on clinical and biochemical (PSA) response criteria in patients treated with this regimen. * Determine a platform for immunological treatment using dendritic-cell based tumor vaccines in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study. Tumor tissue and peripheral blood stem cells are collected from patients and cultured in vitro with sargramostim (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 for 7 days to produce dendritic cells (DC). Patients receive autologous DC transfected with autologous prostate carcinoma RNA intradermally once weekly on weeks 0-3 for a total of 4 doses. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of DC until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Patients are followed at weeks 6, 8, 10, and 12; every 3 months for 9 months; and then annually for 2 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 18 patients will be accrued for this study within 20 months.

Primary Outcomes

Not specified