Efficiency of Vaccination with Lysate-loaded Dendritic Cells in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

This is a multicenter, randomized, phase 2 study, integrating vaccination with tumorlysate-loaded mature dendritic cells into standard radio/temozolomide-chemotherapy of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients with near-complete resection after fluorescence-guided resection. Only patients with confirmed gross-total resection and a residual tumor volume below 5 ml will be eligible for the trial. Vaccination will be performed after radio- and concomitant temozolomide chemotherapy and during the first three cycles of adjuvant TMZ.

Inclusion criteria

Determined at pre-screening (prior to surgery; wk-3 - wk-1):

• Patients ≥ 18 years of age at surgery.
• Patients must be in a cognitive state to understand and sign the informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature and procedures of the study.
• First written informed consent for screening for eligibility, including tumor tissue collection, transfer and processing, central neuropathological evaluation of Tumor sample, central neuroradiological assessment of extent of resection, infectious disease (HIV, HBV, HCV, Treponema pallidum) testing, determination of MGMT promoter methylation status and pregnancy testing.

Determined at screening (at and post-surgery; d0 - wk3):

• Newly diagnosed, monofocal GBM, IDH wildtype (WHO grade IV), including the histological variants of gliosarcoma and giant cell glioblastoma, confirmed by central neuropathologist according to the WHO classification of central nervous System tumors 2016. Tumors may cross into, but not beyond the corpus callosum.
• Near-complete resection (≤ 5 ml residual contrast enhancing tumor volume) confirmed by central neuroradiologist on MRI scan within 72 h postoperative; awake surgery and second look surgery are possible, if medically indicated.
• Sterile tumor sample of ≥ 150 mg with tumor cell frequency ≥ 60% as determined by central neuropathologist available for vaccine production.
• Successful production of sterile, avital tumor lysate.
• Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70%.
• Adequate hepatic (serum glutamate pyruvate transferase/alanine transaminase (SGPT/ALT), serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase/aspartate transaminase (SGOT/AST) and alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3-times upper limit of normal (ULN); bilirubin ≤ 1.5-times ULN) and renal functions (creatinine ≤ 1.5-times ULN).
• Adequate bone marrow function (hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dl, thrombocytes ≥ 100,000/μl, white blood cell count ≥ 3,000/μl; neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/μl).
• Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) ≤ 1.6x ULN unless therapeutically warranted. International normalized ratio (INR) (in absence of anticoagulation treatment) ≤ 1.5.
• Systemic corticosteroids tapered down to ≤ 2 mg of dexamethasone or equivalent per day within 7 days postoperative (use of corticosteroids during the treatment period should be avoided, however it is possible if clinically indicated, but may require interruption of dendritic cell vaccination).
• Female patients with reproductive potential and male generative patients and their female partners must agree to be true abstinent or to use a highly effective form of contraception (pearl index < 1%) during the trial.
• Patients must be in a cognitive state to understand and sign the informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature and procedures of the study.
• Written informed consent to participate in study.

Exclusion criteria

determined at pre-screening (prior to surgery; wk-3 - wk-1):

• Medical history of severe acute or chronic disease with poor prognosis, e.g. severe coronary heart disease, heart failure (New York Heart Association classes III/IV), severe poorly controlled diabetes, severe mental retardation or other serious concomitant systemic disorders incompatible with the study (at the discretion of the investigator).
• Medical history of severe autoimmune disorder or immunodeficiency or patients with organ allograft.
• Medical history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy.
• Prior malignancy during the last three years except non-melanoma skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, treated superficial bladder cancer or cured, early-stage prostate cancer in a patient with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level less than ULN.
• Previous radiotherapy to head and neck.
• Known allergy or intolerability to TMZ, dacarbazine, the contrast agent or to components of the dendritic cell vaccine.
• Current treatment of glioblastoma in another clinical trial with therapeutic intervention or current use of any other investigational agent.
• Known pregnancy or breast feeding.
• No known severe infection requiring treatment.
• Accommodation in an institution due to legal orders (§40(4) AMG).
• Evidence of current drug or alcohol abuse. determined at screening (at and post-surgery; d0 - wk3):
• Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) or Treponema pallidum or other severe infection requiring treatment.
• Accommodation in an institution due to legal orders (§40(4) AMG).
• Pregnant or breast feeding female patients. From pre-menopausal female patients with childbearing potential a negative pregnancy test must be obtained.
• Any psycho-social condition hampering compliance with the study protocol.
• MGMT promoter methylation status equivocal.