In situ vaccination against mycosis fungoides by intratumoral injection of a TLR9 agonist combined with radiation: a phase 1/2 study

YH Kim, D Gratzinger, C Harrison… - Blood, The Journal …, 2012 - ashpublications.org
YH Kim, D Gratzinger, C Harrison, JD Brody, DK Czerwinski, WZ Ai, A Morales, F Abdulla…
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2012ashpublications.org
We have developed and previously reported on a therapeutic vaccination strategy for
indolent B-cell lymphoma that combines local radiation to enhance tumor immunogenicity
with the injection into the tumor of a TLR9 agonist. As a result, antitumor CD8+ T cells are
induced, and systemic tumor regression was documented. Because the vaccination occurs
in situ, there is no need to manufacture a vaccine product. We have now explored this
strategy in a second disease: mycosis fungoides (MF). We treated 15 patients. Clinical …
Abstract
We have developed and previously reported on a therapeutic vaccination strategy for indolent B-cell lymphoma that combines local radiation to enhance tumor immunogenicity with the injection into the tumor of a TLR9 agonist. As a result, antitumor CD8+ T cells are induced, and systemic tumor regression was documented. Because the vaccination occurs in situ, there is no need to manufacture a vaccine product. We have now explored this strategy in a second disease: mycosis fungoides (MF). We treated 15 patients. Clinical responses were assessed at the distant, untreated sites as a measure of systemic antitumor activity. Five clinically meaningful responses were observed. The procedure was well tolerated and adverse effects consisted mostly of mild and transient injection site or flu-like symptoms. The immunized sites showed a significant reduction of CD25+, Foxp3+ T cells that could be either MF cells or tissue regulatory T cells and a similar reduction in S100+, CD1a+ dendritic cells. There was a trend toward greater reduction of CD25+ T cells and skin dendritic cells in clinical responders versus nonresponders. Our in situ vaccination strategy is feasible also in MF and the clinical responses that occurred in a subset of patients warrant further study with modifications to augment these therapeutic effects. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00226993.
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