Autologous Tumor DRibble Vaccine in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Ten patients will be enrolled. Study treatment is as follows: Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 will be given on day 1. Intradermal vaccinations of DRibbles from 5-20 x 106 cell equivalents per vaccine will begin 14 days after docetaxel. Immediately following vaccination, subcutaneous infusion of GM-CSF (50 micrograms/24 hrs) will be initiated. GM-CSF will be infused into the vaccination site for 6 days using the CADD-MS 3 pump.

A second docetaxel injection will be given at day 29 followed by a second vaccination 14 days later and 3 additional vaccines will be given at 2-week intervals. Following each vaccination, GM-CSF will again be infused over 6 days via the CADD-MS 3 pump.

Peripheral blood will be obtained for immune monitoring at each vaccination. DTH to autologous tumor and to DRibble vaccine will be tested before the first and fifth vaccines. A second leukapheresis for immune monitoring will be obtained at 12 weeks. Clinical tumor response will be assessed after the fifth vaccination unless clinical evidence of tumor progression occurs sooner.

Immune response will be assessed by DTH, T-cell function, T-cell migration into the vaccine sites and cytokine release assays. Sophisticated flow cytometry assays will be used to detect active T-cell subsets. Safety will be monitored by physical and laboratory exams at each vaccine visit and adverse events will be recorded and reported as appropriate. Clinical response will be assessed by tumor measurements by CT scan and/or physical exam at study entry and after 12 weeks. PFS and OS will be recorded.

Inclusion criteria

• Stage IIIB or IV NSCLC.
• Adequate pleural effusion (>600 cc) or subcutaneous metastases (>1 cc) for
• DRibble vaccine production.
• Measurable or evaluable disease.
• No or one prior chemotherapy regimen for advanced NSCLC.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0, 1, or 2
• Age > 18 years.
• CD4 count > 200 per cc.
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and must avoid becoming pregnant while on treatment. Men must avoid fathering a child while on treatment. This exclusion is required due to the toxicities that docetaxel may have on the forming fetus, spermatogenesis or the nursing child.
• Also, because pregnancy may alter immune function it may limit the treatment efficacy.
• Ability to give informed consent and comply with the protocol. Patients with a history of psychiatric illness must be judged able to understand fully the investigational nature of the study and the risks associated with the therapy.

Anticipated lifespan minimum 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

• Prior vaccine or gene therapy for cancer.
• Untreated brain metastases or spinal cord compression.
• Active autoimmune disease.
• Active other malignancy.
• Known hypersensitivity to docetaxel.
• HIV positive and/or Hepatitis B or C positive.
• Patients receiving any other concurrent investigational treatment.
• Other medical or psychiatric conditions that in the opinion of the Principal
• Investigator would preclude safe participation in protocol.