Side effects included only local skin reactions and redness and itchiness at the vaccine site for several days. To create the vaccine, researchers inserted the GM-CSF gene into pancreatic cancer cell lines. GM-CSF, the most potent gene known to activate the immune system, attracts immune cells to the site of the tumor vaccine where they recognize antigens found on the cancer cell surface. These antigens then serve as red flags, causing the immune system to seek out and destroy cancer cells elsewhere in the patient. We need to find the best combination of these treatments that will afford patients the best chance for survival.
Researchers caution that further studies are necessary to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness.
The second phase of trials at Hopkins could begin in early summer 2001. Pancreatic cancer strikes more than 27,000 people and claims the lives of an additional 28,000 each year. Less than 5 percent of patients survive beyond five years. In addition to Jaffee, other participants in this study include Ralph H. Hruban, Barbara Biedrzycki, Daniel Laheru, Karen Schepers, Patricia R. Sauter, Marti Goemann, Joanne Coleman from Hopkins, Louise Grochow from NCI, Ross C. Donehower, Keith D. Lillemoe, Seamus O'Reilly, Ross A. Abrams, Drew M. Pardoll, John L. Cameron, and Charles J. Yeo from Hopkins. Under a licensing agreement between the Johns Hopkins University and Cell Genesys, Dr. Jaffee and Dr. Pardoll are entitled to a share of royalty received by the University on sales of technology used in the study described in this press release.