Immune responses detected in urothelial carcinoma patients after vaccination with NY-ESO-1 protein plus BCG and GM-CSF

J Immunother. 2008 Nov-Dec;31(9):849-57. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e3181891574.

Abstract

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is a solid tumor entity for which the immunomodulatory agent Bacillus-Calmette Guerin (BCG) has been shown to have substantial efficacy with approximately 90% cure rates in select patients with superficial disease. Immune-based therapies for patients with more invasive disease do not currently exist. We previously showed that invasive urothelial carcinomas express the NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen. Here we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant NY-ESO-1 protein vaccine, which was administered with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and BCG as immunologic adjuvants in a cohort of urothelial carcinoma patients. Sixty-two urothelial carcinoma patients were screened for enrollment onto the vaccine clinical trial and 6 patients met all eligibility criteria to receive vaccination. Patients with localized disease underwent surgical removal of their bladders as treatment for their disease. Tumor tissues were tested for NY-ESO-1 expression and eligible patients, shown to have NY-ESO-1 tumors, were vaccinated in the postoperative setting. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed for vaccine-induced antibody and T-cell responses. The vaccine regimen was well tolerated with only mild injection site reactions. NY-ESO-1-specific antibody responses were induced in 5/6 patients whereas CD8 T-cell responses occurred in 1/6 patients and CD4 T-cell responses were found in 6/6 patients. This study demonstrates safety and feasibility of the NY-ESO-1 recombinant protein in combination with BCG and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor to induce predominantly antibody and CD4 T-cell responses in urothelial carcinoma patients. Induction of higher frequency of CD8 T-cell responses may be possible in clinical trials implementing NY-ESO-1 vaccination in combination with other immunomodulatory agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • BCG Vaccine / adverse effects
  • BCG Vaccine / therapeutic use*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cancer Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines* / immunology
  • Carcinoma / immunology*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / therapy*
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Epitopes
  • Erythema / etiology
  • Erythema / immunology
  • Female
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / administration & dosage*
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / adverse effects
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Injections, Intradermal
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Urothelium / pathology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • BCG Vaccine
  • CTAG1B protein, human
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Epitopes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor