Anti-TGF Monoclonal Antibody (GC1008) in Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

This study is being conducted to evaluate the overall safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug, GC1008, in patients with mesothelioma. An investigational drug is one that has not been approved by the FDA. Approximately 40 people will be enrolled on this study at the University of Pennsylvania (Main Institution/Coordinating Site) and the University of Chicago (Participating Institution). We expect about 20 subjects to be enrolled at each institution.

Primary: - To assess progression-free survival rate at three months.

Secondary: - To determine the toxicity and safety of systemic infusion of anti-TGF beta antibody at three-week dosing intervals. - To assess time to progression and overall survival - to assess response rate using Modified RECIST Criteria for Mesothelioma Additional Objectives: - To assess efficacy using serial measurements of serum \[and intrapleural, if indwelling catheter in place\] biomarkers, including serum-mesothelin related peptide (SMRP/Mesomark®) and osteopontin. - To assess systemic \[and intrapleural if indwelling catheter in place\] humoral anti-tumor immune responses after repeated anti-TGF beta antibody instillation. - To assess systemic \[and intrapleural, if indwelling catheter in place\] TGF beta, and other cytokine levels after repeated anti-TGF beta antibody instillation. - To assess biologic response measurements of TGF beta blockade from serum tests and from pleural fluid or biopsy tissue if this is available.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Pathologically \[histologically or cytologically\] documented pleural malignant mesothelioma.

Patients must have had at least one, but no more than two prior systemic therapies, at least one of which contained pemetrexed.

* Documented progressive disease evaluable by Modified RECIST criteria. \[Progressive symptoms after 1st line therapy in the absence of objective progression are acceptable as a criterion for enrollment\]. Patients who have had previous extrapleural pneumonectomy and disease recurrence will be eligible if they have no other exclusion criteria.
* ECOG Performance status of 0 or 1.
* Greater or equal to 18 years of age.
* Male and female patients of child-producing potential must agree to use effective contraception while enrolled on study and receiving the experimental drug, and for at least 3 months after the last treatment.
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 1 week prior to beginning treatment on this trial.
* Must be able and willing to give written informed consent. Patients may not be consented by a durable power of attorney.
* Serum albumin greater or equal to 2.5
* Adequate organ function
* Patients must have negative tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and for hepatitis viruses B and C (antibody and/or antigen) unless the result is consistent with prior vaccination or prior infection with full recovery.
* At the time of enrollment, patients must be greater than 3 weeks since major surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy (greater or equal to 6 weeks if they were treated with a nitrosourea, mitomycin or monoclonal antibody), immunotherapy, or biotherapy/targeted therapies and recovered from the toxicity of prior treatment to less than or equal to Grade 1, exclusive of alopecia. Concurrent non-protocol cancer therapy is not permitted. (In patients who received long acting agents, a treatment free interval of 2 half lives should be considered.) Note: Although a patient can be entered by these criteria, if a patient is less than 3-6 months from radiotherapy or talc pleurodesis, FDG-PET scanning will not be useful. 12).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known central nervous system (CNS) metastases, meningeal carcinomatosis, malignant seizures, or a disease that either causes or threatens neurologic compromise (e.g., unstable vertebral metastases).
* Presence of pericardial effusion
* Rapidly re-accumulating, symptomatic malignant pleural effusions status-post thoracentesis or pleural catheter insertion that requires immediate mechanical or chemical pleurodesis for adequate palliation.
* Active thrombophlebitis, thromboembolism, hypercoagulability states, bleeding, or use of anti-coagulation therapy (including lovenox, warfarin, or anti platelet agents such as aspirin \[with the exception of low dose ASA \~ 81 mg/d\] , clopidogrel, ticlopidine, dipyridamole, and other agents used to induce long-acting platelet dysfunction). Patients with a history of deep venous thrombosis may participate if successfully treated, completely resolved, and no treatment has been given for greater than 4 months.
* Pregnant or nursing women, due to the unknown effects of GC1008 on the developing fetus or newborn infant.
* Other active invasive malignancy requiring ongoing therapy.
* Patients with an organ transplant, including those that have received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant.
* Use of investigational agents within 4 weeks prior to study enrollment (within 6 weeks if the treatment was with a long-acting agent such as a monoclonal antibody).
* Patients on immunosuppressive therapy
* Significant or uncontrolled medical illness, such as congestive heart failure (CHF), myocardial infarction, symptomatic coronary artery disease, significant ventricular arrhythmias within the last 6 months, or significant pulmonary dysfunction.

Patients with a remote history of asthma or active mild asthma may participate.

* Active infection, including active herpes zoster, as well as unexplained fever (temperature 38.1C), or antibiotic therapy within 1 week prior to enrollment.
* Systemic autoimmune disease (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, active rheumatoid arthritis, etc.).
* Positive stool fecal occult blood test (patients who are positive will need a standard GI work-up consisting of an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and Colonoscopy) prior to enrollment to rule out possible reasons for bleeding. A patient will be eligible with negative results for both exams.
* Active GI bleeding within past 5 years other than due to benign anorectal causes such as hemorrhoids, fissures and stricture.
* A known allergy to any component of GC1008.
* Patients who, in the opinion of the Investigator, have significant medical or psychosocial problems that warrant exclusion.