Antiangiogenic Peptide Vaccine Therapy With Gemcitabine in Treating Patient With Pancreatic Cancer (Phase1/2)

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2 (VEGFR1 andVEGFR2) are essential targets to tumor angiogenesis, and we identified that peptides derived from these receptors significantly induce the effective tumor specific CTL response in vitro and in vivo. According to these findings, in this trial, we evaluate the safety, tolerability and immune response of these peptide emulsified with Montanide ISA 51 in combination with gemcitabine

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS

• Locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer precluding curative surgical resection and recurrent pancreatic cancer
• Measurable disease by CT scan

PATIENTS CHARACTERISTICS

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Life expectancy > 3 months
• Laboratory values as follows:

• 2,000/mm3 < WBC < 15000/mm3
• Platelet count ≥ 750,000/mm³
• Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x
• Aspartate transaminase < 150 IU/L
• Alanine transaminase < 150 IU/L
• Creatinine ≤ 3.0 mg/dl
• HLA-A*2402
• Able and willing to give valid written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy (women of childbearing potential: Refusal or inability to use effective means of contraception)
• Breast-feeder
• Active or uncontrolled infection
• Prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy within 4 weeks
• Serious or uncured wound
• Active or uncontrolled other malignancy
• Steroids or immunosuppressing agent dependent status
• Interstitial pneumonia
• Ileus
• Decision of unsuitableness by principal investigator or physician-in-charge