Phase 1-2 of a CpG-Activated Whole Cell Vaccine Followed by Autologous Immunotransplant for MCL

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a sub-type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) which is generally considered incurable with current therapy. Participants will receive an autologous vaccine against their individual lymphoma after undergoing stem cell transplantation. This vaccination may prolong the time which patients will stay in remission from their disease.

Study treatment is a complex set of steps of research procedures and regular medical care. By using a participant's cancer cells as an immungen, the study hopes to improve freedom from molecular residual disease (MRD).

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE Freedom from molecular residual disease at 1-year post-autologous transplant.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE Time To Clinical Progression (TTP)

This study has 2 research agents, PF-03152676 and CpG-MCL Vaccine.

PF-03152676 is a synthetic DNA molecule, 24 nucleotides in length with a nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate backbone. It is an immunostimulatory, single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (oligo-DNA) containing unmethylated cytosine and guanine (CpG) motifs and synthesized with a nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate backbone. PF-03512676 acts as an agonist of human Toll-like receptor 9, leading to activation of antigen-presenting cells and a cascade of anti-tumor immune reactions.

CpG-MCL Vaccine is the primary study agent. It is prepared by dissociating a participant's harvested tumor cells into a single-cell suspension, and culturing them with PF-03152676 for 72 hours at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2 to allow for up-regulation of antigen-presenting and co-stimulatory molecules, then irradiated to 200 Gy to destroy any remaining cancer propagating ability.

The study procedure is summarized as 12 steps, listed below.

* Step 1. Undergo excisional tumor biopsy or apheresis to obtain tumor cells, which will be used to generate the CpG-MCL vaccine .
* Step 2. Receive standard induction chemotherapy (regular medical care).
* Step 3. Once in remission, receive 3 vaccinations of CpG-MCL Vaccine over 3 weeks. With each CpG-MCL vaccination, a concurrent subcutaneous injection of PF-3512676 is administered as an adjuvant.
* Step 4. About 4 weeks later, receive rituximab 375 mg/m² to minimize any residual tumor.
* Step 5. Apheresis procedure to harvest the CpG-MCL Vaccine-primed T-cells. Each collection is \~1 x 10e10 CD3+ T-cells.
* Step 6. High-dose cytoxan and filgrastim to mobilize peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC).
* Step 7. Undergo separate apheresis procedure to harvest PBPC).
* Step 8. Receive myeloablative chemotherapy (regular medical care).
* Step 9. Receive PBPC infusion (also known as autologous hematopoietic cell transplant, AHCT).
* Step 10. Within 3 days of AHCT (but typically 1 day), receive infusion of CpG-MCL Vaccine-primed T-cells, followed within 1 hour by a with 4th vaccination with CpG-MCL Vaccine (1st booster vaccination).
* Step 11. After hematopoietic recovery, receive 5th vaccination with CpG-MCl (2nd booster vaccination).
* Step 12. Monitor participants for general health and disease status through at least 3 years.

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA

* Newly-diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with accessible disease site for excisional biopsy, OR have sufficient peripheral blood tumor to leukapherese ≥ 1.5 x 10e9 lymphoma cells in a single session
* Medically appropriate by standard clinical criteria to receive rituximab and standard induction chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT)
* HIV-negative
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status, OR Karnofsky performance scale 50 to 100%
* Capable of providing informed consent

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

* Currently receiving immunosuppressive medications
* Severe psychological or medical illness
* Pregnant or lactating
* Unable to safely complete the study, at the discretion of the principal investigator