Study of a DNA Immunotherapy to Treat Melanoma

The study is an investigation of a novel immunotherapy, SCIB1, for the treatment of melanoma. SCIB1 is a solution of plasmid DNA molecules which will express a modified antibody in human cells. The antibody modifications are designed to stimulate the patient's immune T cells to have a strong and specific reaction against melanoma cells which should then be eliminated. SCIB1 is injected into muscle using a device which simultaneously delivers an electrical impulse to enhance the transfer of SCIB1 into muscle cells. The trial will assess the safety and tolerability of SCIB1, the safety and performance of the injection device and the immunological effects of SCIB1. This is the first study of SCIB1 in humans and the trial has two parts, in the first part the dose will be escalated to determine a safe and tolerable level up to a maximum of 8 mg per dose. In the second part patients will receive the dose determined in the first part. Patients will have stage III or IV melanoma, be HLA type A2 and have a life expectancy of at least three months. All patients will receive 5 injections of SCIB1 over 5.5 months. At the discretion of the investigator, patients may continue to receive SCIB1 at 3-6 month intervals for 5 years. The study will be conducted at major cancer centres in the UK only and is expected to last for seven years. Patients will be followed up for five years after they have completed the trial.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Part One and Part Two (8.0 mg dose):

* Histologically confirmed Stage IV or Stage III malignant melanoma, as defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC).
* Must have measurable disease (RECIST 1.0)

Part Two (4.0 mg dose) only:

* Histologically confirmed, resected Stage III or resected Stage IV malignant melanoma, as defined by the AJCC, within 12 months of resection and with no tumour detectable at the time of screening.

Part One and Part Two:

* HLA-A2 positive.
* Positive for HLA-DR4, HLA-DR7, HLA-DR53 or HLA-DQ6.
* Lymphocyte count ≥ 5 x 10e9 cells/mL.
* Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ≤ upper limit of normal.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2.
* Willing and able to give written, informed consent.
* If male or female of childbearing potential, must be willing to use an effective contraceptive during the course of the study and for three months afterwards.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known brain metastases at screening.
* Life expectancy of less than three months.
* Patients with TNM classification M1c at screening.
* Prior systemic anti-cancer treatment within four weeks of screening.
* Prior treatment with systemic corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants within four weeks of screening.
* Previous (within five years) or current malignancy at other sites with the exception of curatively treated local tumours such as carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix, basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
* Pregnant or lactating women.
* Presence of any uncontrolled and significant medical or psychiatric condition which would interfere with trial safety assessments. Caution should be used for patients with suspected or diagnosed epilepsy.
* Any electronic stimulation device such as cardiac demand pacemaker, automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator, nerve stimulators or deep brain stimulators.
* Individuals in which a skin-fold measurement of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue for all eligible injection sites (deltoid or quadriceps muscles with intact lymph drainage) exceeds 40 mm.
* Individuals with a heart rate of ≤ 50 beats per minute, history of significant cardiac abnormality and/or significant abnormal baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) readout.
* Treatment with any investigational product within the four weeks preceding screening.