A Phase I/Ib study of folate immune (EC90 vaccine administered with GPI-0100 adjuvant followed by EC17) with interferon-α and interleukin-2 in patients with renal cell carcinoma

J Immunother. 2014 May;37(4):237-44. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0000000000000029.

Abstract

Folate immune (EC90 vaccine with GPI-0100 adjuvant followed by EC17) is a novel folate-targeted hapten immunotherapy designed to exploit the overexpression of folate receptors on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells. In this open-label, phase I/II clinical study, we report the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of folate immune with concurrent interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-α (IFN-α) in patients with recurrent or metastatic RCC. Twenty-four patients were enrolled. Following 2 phase I cohorts of 6 patients each, we extended the study to 12 additional patients: 18 received weekly vaccination of 1.2 mg of EC90 with 3.0 mg of GPI-0100 adjuvant for 4 weeks. Beginning on cycle 1, day 8, 0.3 mg/kg of EC17 was administered once daily, 5 days per week (Monday-Friday) for 4 consecutive weeks. Beginning on cycle 1, day 15, IL-2 and IFN-α were administered at doses of 12 and 3.0 MIU, respectively, after the EC17 dose, 3 times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) for 3 weeks. In cycle 2, IL-2 and IFN-α, doses of 7.0 and 3.0 MIU, respectively, were administered 3 days per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) for 4 consecutive weeks. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Most adverse events reported were grade 1 or 2, with only twelve grade ≥3 toxicities reported. Sixteen patients had progressive disease, 7 patients were observed to have stable disease, and 1 patient achieved a partial response lasting 71 days. Overall, folate immune plus low-dose IFN-α and IL-2 was safe and well tolerated with some observed clinical activity.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / therapy*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Fluorescein
  • Folic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Folic Acid / adverse effects
  • Folic Acid / immunology*
  • Haptens / administration & dosage
  • Haptens / adverse effects
  • Haptens / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Interleukin-2 / administration & dosage
  • Interleukin-2 / adverse effects
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Haptens
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukin-2
  • Folic Acid
  • Fluorescein