Microsphere-Delivered Cytokines in Increasing Tumor Response in Lymphocytes From Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

NYU Langone Health

Status: Completed

Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer

Treatments: Biological: aldesleukin; Biological: sargramostim; Other: immunologic technique; Procedure: biopsy; Biological: recombinant interleukin-12

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00899821

NYU-9916

CDR0000280490

Details and patient eligibility

About

RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about how interleukin-2, interleukin-12, and GM-CSF delivered in microspheres increase the body's ability to kill tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at microsphere-delivered cytokines to see if they increase tumor response in lymphocytes from patients with head and neck cancer.

Full description

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine whether local sustained delivery of cytokines (interleukin-2, interleukin-12, or sargramostim [GM-CSF]) in biodegradable microspheres augments antitumor response in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) obtained from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, as evaluated in a human/SCID chimeric mouse model.
• Assess the potential of cytokine-loaded microspheres combined with dendritic cells (pulsed with tumor peptide) obtained from these patients to enhance long-term immunity against the tumor, as evaluated in a human/SCID chimeric mouse model.
• Evaluate the antitumor effect of the more effective approach (objective I or II) against established tumors in the mouse model.

OUTLINE: Biopsies of tumor are obtained during surgical resection. Patients undergo phlebotomy or leukapheresis to obtain peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). PBLs, tumor tissue, and cytokine-loaded microspheres are coengrafted into SCID mice. Tumor growth and immune response are determined.

Dendritic cells are obtained from PBLs, expanded in culture, and pulsed with either autologous tumor cell lysates or peptide eluted from the tumor cells. The dendritic cells are coengrafted with tumor cells, PBLs, and cytokine-loaded microspheres into SCID mice. The mice are then challenged with autologous tumor cells, and antitumor response is determined.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 50 patients will be accrued for this study.

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• Tumor tissue shows engraftment in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice or growth in tissue culture

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 20 to 80

Performance status

• Not specified

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Not specified

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No known immunocompromised disease or condition
• No social, physical, or psychiatric condition that would preclude leukapheresis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• No concurrent immunosuppressive medication