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NCT Number: NCT04936529

A Study of a Vaccine in Combination With β-glucan and GM-CSF in People With Neuroblastoma

The purpose of the study is to explore the combination of a bivalent vaccine, a sugar called beta-glucan (β-glucan), and a protein called granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an effective treatment for people with high-risk neuroblastoma that is in complete remission. The combination may be effective because the different parts of the treatment work to strengthen the immune system's response against cancer cells in different ways.

Recruiting

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Key information

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, 10065, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Brian Kushner, MD

CONTACT

833-675-5437

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of NB as defined by international criteria, i.e., histopathology (confirmed by the MSK Department of Pathology) or BM metastases plus high urine catecholamine levels or positivity in MIBG scan
  • HR-NB as defined by risk-related treatment guidelines and international criteria,i.e., metastatic/non-localized disease with MYCN amplification (any age), MYCN-non-amplified metastatic disease >18 months old, MYCNamplified localized disease (any age), or disease resistant to standard chemotherapy.
  • HR-NB (as defined above) and in 1) first CR at ≥ 6 months from initiation of immunotherapy using anti-GD2 antibody, or 2) second or subsequent CR (achieved after treatment for PD). CR is defined according to the International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria.Patients with positive MIBG scan but negative FDG-PET scan, and CR in BM, are eligible.
  • Patients with grade 3 toxicities or less using the Common Toxicity Criteria (Version 5.0) developed by the National Cancer Institute of the USA (CTCAE v5.0) related to hematologic, cardiac, neurological, pulmonary, renal, hepatic or gastrointestinal function as determined by blood tests or physical exam.
  • Hematologic Function
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 500/mcl
  • Absolute lymphocyte count ≥ 500/mcl
  • Hemaglobin (Hgb) ≥ 8 g/dL
  • Platelet count ≥ 50,000 mm^3
  • Renal Function o Serum creatinine ≤ 3.0 x ULN

or

  • eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m^2
  • Hepatic Function
  • Serum bilirubin ≤ 3.0 × ULN
  • Aspartate transaminase (AST) ≤ 5.0 × ULN
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 5.0 × ULN
  • Prior treatment with other immunotherapy, including mAbs or vaccine, is allowed but must be completed ≥ 21 days before the 1st vaccination.

Note: Prior treatment with an investigational therapy must be completed ≥ 28 days before the 1st vaccination.

  • ≥ 21 and ≤ 180 days between completion of systemic therapy and 1st vaccination.
  • Patients have recovered from any toxicities grade 3 or higher caused by prior therapies.
  • Patients previously enrolled on this trial are eligible for repeat enrollment if they did not complete all vaccine injections during the first time on protocol but they will be assigned to Group 3 and will not be included in the primary biostatistical analyses.
  • A negative pregnancy test is required for patients w ith child-bearing capability.
  • Signed informed consent indicating awareness of the investigational nature of this program.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients w ith significant (grade >4) hematologic, cardiac, neurological, pulmonary, renal, hepatic or gastrointestinal function as determined by blood tests or physical exam, using the Common Toxicity Criteria (Version 5.0) developed by the National Cancer Institute of the USA (CTCAE v5.0)
  • History of allergy to KLH, QS-21, OPT-821, or glucan.
  • Active life-threatening infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Inability to comply with protocol requirements.
  • Patients with history of allergy to GM-CSF or who are unable to obtain GM-CSF because of insurance issues are ineligible

Treatment and study plan

β-glucan

Dietary Supplement

Group 1 participants receive oral β-glucan (40 mg/kg/day) starting week 1 and continue with ~2 weeks on, ~2 weeks off, up to 1 cycle after vaccination #7, then 1 cycle with each subsequent vaccination (#8-#14). This schedule includes annual booster vaccinations, with a 2-week cycle of β-glucan, administered at months 36 (3 years), 48 (4 years), and 60 (5 years).

Group 2 participants receive oral β-glucan (40 mg/kg/day) starting week 1 and continue with ~2 weeks on, ~2 weeks off, up to 1 cycle after vaccination #7, then 1 cycle with each subsequent vaccination (#8-#14).

Group 3 participants will be treated as in Group 1.

Other names: oral β-glucan

GM-CSF

Drug

Group 1 participants will not receive GM-CSF.

Group 2 participants will receive GM-CSF (250 mcg/m2/day) x3 days with vaccinations #1-#3; x7 days with vaccinations #4-#11; and x5 days with vaccinations #12-#14.

Group 3 participants will be treated as in Group 1.

OPT-821

Biological

Vaccine injections must occur a minimum of 6 days apart. After the first four vaccine injections, vaccines can be administered up to two weeks earlier or later than indicated without representing a protocol violation.

Other names: QS-21

Primary outcomes

  1. Effect of GM-CSF on anti-GD2 antibody titers

    Time frame: 32 weeks

    Effect of GM-CSF on anti-GD2 antibody titers among patients who are in first or second (or later) CR, i.e., have no evidence of NB by standard studies.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Brian Kushner, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

1-833-675-5437

Fiorella Iglesias Cardenas, MD, MS

CONTACT

1-833-675-5437

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Phase II Trial of a Bivalent Vaccine With the Immunological Adjuvant OPT-821 (QS-21), in Combination With Oral β-glucan and Randomization of GM-CSF, for High-risk Neuroblastoma

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jun 23, 2021
Registry last updated
Jun 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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