Source
Pacific Northwest Cancer Foundation, Cancer Research Division, Northwest Hospital, Seattle, Washington 98125, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
A phase II trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of infusions of dendritic cells (DC) and two HLA-A2-specific PSMA peptides (PSM-P1 and -P2). This report describes thirty three subjects with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer without prior vaccine therapy history who were evaluated and reported as a group.
METHODS:
All subjects received six infusions of DC pulsed with PSM-P1 and -P2 at six week intervals. Clinical monitoring was conducted pre-, during, and post- phase II study. Data collected include: complete blood count, bone and total alkaline phosphatase, prostate markers, physical examination, performance status, bone scan, ProstaScint scan, chest x-ray, as well as assays to monitor cellular immune responses.
RESULTS:
Six partial and two complete responders were identified in the phase II study based on NPCP criteria, plus 50% reduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), or resolution in previously measurable lesions on ProstaScint scan.
CONCLUSIONS:
Over 30% of study participants in this group showed a positive response at the conclusion of the trial. This study suggested that DC-based cancer vaccines may provide an alternative therapy for prostate cancer patients whose disease no longer responds to hormone therapy.