Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BackgroundCombination immunotherapy has the potential to achieve additive or synergistic effects. Combined local injections of dsRNA analogues (mimicking viral RNA) and repeated vaccinations with tumor-lysate loaded dendritic cells shows efficacy against colon cancer mouse models. In the context of immunotherapy, radiotherapy can exert beneficial abscopal effects.Patients and methodsIn this two-cohort pilot phase I study, 15 advanced cancer patients received two 4-week cycles of four intradermal daily doses of monocyte-derived dendritic cells preloaded with autologous tumor lysate and matured for 24 h with poly-ICLC (Hiltonol), TNF-α and IFN-α. On days +8 and +10 of each cycle, patients received intratumoral image-guided 0.25 mg injections of the dsRNA-analogue Hiltonol. Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 was administered 1 week before. Six patients received stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) on selected tumor lesions, including those injected with Hiltonol. Expression of 25 immune-relevant genes was sequentially monitored by RT-PCR on circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) and serum concentrations of a cytokine panel were sequentially determined before and during treatment. Pre- and post-treatment PBMC from patients achieving durable stable disease (SD) were studied by IFNγ ELISPOT-assays responding to tumor-lysate loaded DC and by TCRβ sequencing.ResultsCombined treatment was, safe and well tolerated. One heavily pretreated castration-resistant prostate cancer patient experienced a remarkable mixed abscopal response to SABR+ immunotherapy. No objective responses were observed, while nine patients presented SD (five of them in the six-patient radiotherapy cohort). Intratumoral Hiltonol increased IFN-β and IFN-α mRNA in circulating PBMC. DC vaccination increased serum IL-12 and IL-1β concentrations, especially in patients presenting SD. IFNγ-ELISPOT reactivity to tumor lysates was observed in two patients experiencing durable SD.ConclusionsThis radio-immunotherapy combination strategy, aimed at resembling viral infection in tumor tissue in combination with a dendritic-cell vaccine and SABR, is safe and shows immune-associated activity and signs of preliminary clinical efficacy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/annonc/mdy089

Type

Journal article

Journal

Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology

Publication Date

05/2018

Volume

29

Pages

1312 - 1319

Addresses

Department of Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona; Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona; CIBERONC, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer, Madrid; Navarra Health Research Insititute (IDISNA), Pamplona.

Keywords

Dendritic Cells, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Humans, Neoplasms, Cyclophosphamide, Polylysine, Poly I-C, Cancer Vaccines, Antigens, Neoplasm, Cytokines, Immunotherapy, Combined Modality Therapy, Radiosurgery, Injections, Intralesional, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors