Treatment Information

Cancer Monthly > Treatment Information
Back

Melanoma treatment details. Immunotherapy.

Human Immune Therapy Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Charlottesville, VA
Treatments:ImmunotherapyHospital:Human Immune Therapy Center, University of Virginia
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Aug 2013

Description:

Patients:
This phase 2 study involved metastatic melanoma patients who were divided into four separate treatment groups. Group A had 47 patients with a median age of 65 years; 56.1% were male. Group B had 43 patients with a median age of 69.8 years; 57.6% were male. Group C had 37 patients with a median age of 66.1 years; 65.6% were male. Group D had 48 patients with a median age of 64.9 years; 59.5% were male.

Treatment:
Patients in group A were treated with a cancer vaccine termed 12MP, which is made up of a mixture of 12 different melanoma peptides that stimulate cytotoxic T cells to target cancer cells.

Patients in group B were treated with a cancer vaccine termed 12MP/Tet, which is made up of a mixture of 12 different melanoma peptides that stimulate cytotoxic T cells and a tetanus peptide that stimulates helper T cells.

Patients in group C were treated with a cancer vaccine termed 12MP/6MHP, which is made up of a mixture of 12 different melanoma peptides that stimulate cytotoxic T cells and a mixture of 6 different melanoma helper peptides that stimulate helper T cells.

Patients in group D were treated with a cancer vaccine termed 6MHP, which is made up of a mixture of 6 different melanoma helper peptides that stimulate helper T cells to target cancer cells.

Toxicities:
The most severe toxicities in group A were of grade 4 and included grade 3-4 neutropenia, leucopenia, and injection site reaction.

The most severe toxicities in group B were of grade 4 and included grade 3-4 allergic reaction, fatigue, and injection site reaction.

The most severe toxicities in group C were of grade 4 and included grade 3-4 fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

The most severe toxicities in group D were of grade 4 and included grade 3-4 fatigue and injection site reaction.

Results:
The median overall survival rates for groups A, B, C, and D were 14.9, 10.2, 12.4, and 11.1 months, respectively.

Support:
One of the authors has received funding from Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals and has financial interest (patents) in some of the vaccine components.

Correspondence: Dr. Craig L. Slingluff Jr; email: [email protected]

Email Physician More Information


Back