Chemotherapy, Stem Cell Transplantation and Donor and Patient Vaccination for Treatment of Multiple Myeloma

Background:

The mainstay of therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients remains systemic chemotherapy. Although partial remissions of up to 60% are obtained with conventional regimens, multiple myeloma is essentially an incurable disease with a median survival of approximately 30 months.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) results in a high percentage of complete remissions, but it can be associated with significant treatment-related mortality, which has been primarily attributed to conventional myeloablative transplant regimens.

Recent clinical studies have shown that highly immunosuppressive yet non-myeloablative doses of fludarabine-based chemotherapy can result in allo-engraftment. Even with a reduction in treatment related mortality, success with allogeneic SCT is limited by a significant risk of relapse.

Donor immunization with myeloma Id in the setting of a non-myeloablative allogeneic SCT may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Objectives:

Primary Objectives:

To induce cellular and humoral immunity in allogeneic stem cell donors and recipients against the unique idiotype expressed by the recipient's myeloma.

To determine whether antigen-specific immunity, induced in the stem cell donor, can be passively transferred to the allogeneic SCT recipient in the setting of a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen.

Secondary Objectives:

To evaluate the effect of the Fludarabine-EPOCH regimen on host T cell depletion and myeloid depletion prior to allogeneic SCT.

To determine the efficacy of a novel conventional chemotherapy regimen (Fludarabine-EPOCH) in the setting multiple myeloma.

To determine the treatment-related morbidity and mortality of allogeneic stem cell transplantation using a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen in multiple myeloma.

To determine if the re-vaccination of allogeneic stem cell donors with the unique idiotype expressed by the recipient's myeloma will enhance cellular and humoral immunity to patient specific-idiotype prior to lymphocyte donation for the treatment of patients with recurrent or progressive disease after transplantation.

Eligibility:

Patients 18-75 years of age with IgG or IgA multiple myeloma.

Patients must have achieved at least a partial remission following initial conventional chemotherapy regimen or after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Consenting first degree relative matched at 6/6 or 5/6 HLA antigens.

Design:

Phase 2 trial using a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen to reduce treatment-related toxicity.

Recipient will undergo a plasmapheresis to obtain starting material for the isolation of idiotype protein. Donors would be immunized with an Id vaccine prepared from the patient.

Prior to transplantation patients would receive a conventional chemotherapy regimen which contains agents active in myeloma and is T cell depleting. The allogeneic SCT would be performed with a conditioning regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. The stem cell source would be blood mobilized with filgrastim. Recipients will be immunized with the Id vaccine following transplantation.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA: Collection of plasma in recipient:

Patients with Immunoglobulin G (IgG) or Immunoglobulin A (IgA) multiple myeloma.

Patients have siblings.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing of recipient and donor(s) initiated.

Viral antibody screening initiated.

Inclusion criteria

Recipient:

Patients with IgG or IgA multiple myeloma.

Patients must have achieved at least a partial remission following initial conventional chemotherapy regimen or after autologous stem cell transplantation. Patients who have undergone tandem autologous stem transplants are eligible if they meet all other eligibility criteria. Patients who have achieved at least a partial remission to initial (primary) conventional chemotherapy will be encouraged to proceed to autologous transplantation, but will also be eligible for this protocol.

Patients 18-75 years of age. The upper age limit was chosen as it is felt that the toxicities would exceed potential benefit in this older population.

Karnofsky performance status greater than or equal to 80%.

Life expectancy greater than 6 months.

Left ventricular ejection fraction has to be greater than 50% by either multi-gated acquisition scan (MUGA) or 2-D echo.

Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) greater than 50% of the expected value when corrected for hemoglobin (Hb)(96).

Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 mg/dl and a creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 50 ml/min.

Direct bilirubin less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dl serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) less than 4x top normal.

M-protein: the concentration in the harvested plasma must be greater than 70% of the total Ig of the corresponding isotype.

Patients must be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative. There is the theoretical possibility that the degree of immune suppression associated with the treatment may result in progression of HIV infection. Patients may be Hepatitis B core antigen positive, but surface antigen negative and without evidence of active infection. Patients must be Hepatitis C negative.

Not pregnant or lactating. Patients of childbearing potential must use an effective method of contraception. The effects of the chemotherapy, the subsequent transplant and the medications used after the transplant are highly likely to be harmful to a fetus. The effects upon breast milk are also unknown and may potentially be harmful to the infant.

Consenting first degree relative matched at 6/6 or 5/6 HLA antigens, this may include a mismatch at the D locus.

Ability to give informed consent.

Inclusion criteria

Donor:

Age 18-75 years. As the potential cerebrovascular and cardiac complications may potentially increase with age, age 75 has been chosen arbitrarily as the upper age limit. However, if it is determined after initial accrual of patients in this upper age range that this procedure is relatively safe, the age range may be extended.

No physical contraindications to stem cell donation (i.e. severe atherosclerosis, auto-immune disease, cerebrovascular accident, active malignancy (97). Patients with severe atherosclerosis by history will receive a cardiology consult and be judged eligible on a case by case basis.

Donors must be HIV-negative, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg-), and Hepatitis C antibody negative. This is to prevent the possible transmission of these infections to the recipient.

Not pregnant or lactating. Donors of childbearing potential must use an effective method of contraception. The effects of cytokine administration on a fetus are unknown and may be potentially harmful. The effects upon breast milk are also unknown and may potentially be harmful to the infant.

Normal cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) and cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) numbers as defined by Clinical Center standards.

Ability to give informed consent.