Safety and Immunogenicity of a Melanoma DNA Vaccine Delivered by Electroporation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine encoding a melanosomal antigen in melanoma patients at risk for disease progression or recurrence. In this study, the vaccine will be administered intramuscularly using a device that applies brief electrical fields to the tissue at the site of injection (a technique known as electroporation). It is expected that this device will improve the delivery of the vaccine. This study is being performed to determine if this procedure can be administered safely and if it is capable of inducing immune responses to the vaccine.

Detailed Description
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This study is designed to evaluate administration of a xenogeneic DNA vaccine encoding the melanosomal antigen tyrosinase by in vivo electroporation in patients with malignant melanoma. The objectives of the study are to characterize the safety and immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine encoding the murine tyrosinase gene delivered administered intramuscularly using the electroporation based TriGrid Delivery System (Ichor Medical Systems). We will assess the nature, frequency, and severity of any toxicity associated with vaccination at escalating pINGmuTyr doses and then expand enrollment at then expand enrollment at the Maximum Tolerated Dose to assess immunologic responses to the tyrosinase antigen. The hypotheses being tested are that the procedure is feasible and safe and that it induces immune responses specific for tyrosinase in patients with stage IIB-IV malignant melanoma.

Official Title
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A Phase Ia/Ib Study of the Safety and Immunogenicity of a Xenogeneic Tyrosinase DNA Vaccine Melanoma

Conditions
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Melanoma (Skin), Intraocular Melanoma

Intervention / Treatment
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* Biological: Xenogeneic Tyrosinase DNA Vaccine
* Device: TriGrid Delivery System for Intramuscular Electroporation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients must have documented, histologically confirmed malignant melanoma, American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) Stage IIB- IV. Patients with stage IIb-III disease are only eligible after standard surgical care with wide local excision and appropriate lymph node sampling. Patients with stage IIb, IIc, or III melanoma who are free of disease after surgical resection are also eligible, only if they have refused high dose Interferon-alfa (INTRON A) or have had a recurrence while on Interferon-alfa. Patients with choroidal melanoma may participate if they fulfill one of the following criteria: Basal diameter >16mm; Height >8mm or involvement of the ciliary body with tumor. Patients must be at least 18 years of age and must be capable of understanding the consent form and giving informed consent. Karnofsky Score > 80 Life Expectancy > 6 months HLA-A1, A2, A24, or B35+ as assessed by low resolution phenotyping White blood cell count ≥ 2,000/mm3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3 Neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm3 Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL Serum AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Serum Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Serum Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Serum Alkaline Phosphatase < 2.5 times ULN Serum Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) < 2.5 times ULN Exclusion Criteria: Documented metastases in brain Clinical history of HIV, HepB, HepC, and/or HTLV I. Active autoimmune disease other than vitiligo Patients previously immunized using the tyrosinase DNA sequence, protein, or peptides. Systemic immunosuppressive therapy (corticosteroids, or other immunosuppressive drugs) within the previous 28 days Surgery and/or radiotherapy within the previous 28 days Chemotherapy and/or biotherapy within the previous 28 days Participation in an investigational study within previous 28 days Patients with cardiac demand pacemakers. Women who are pregnant or < 3 months post partum or nursing. Women of child-bearing potential and sexually active men must be using appropriate contraception during the course of this study. Any other concurrent medical condition that in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator's would preclude study compliance.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Xenogeneic Tyrosinase<br> | Biological: Xenogeneic Tyrosinase DNA Vaccine<br> <br> Device: TriGrid Delivery System for Intramuscular Electroporation<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Evaluate the safety and feasibility of electroporation mediated intramuscular delivery of a mouse tyrosinase plasmid DNA vaccine in patients with stage IIB, IIC, III, or IV melanoma. |  | one year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Assess patients with measurable tumor for evidence of anti-tumor response following immunization. |  | 6 months | 
| Assess the magnitude and frequency of tyrosinase specific immunologic responses in the immunized patients |  | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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melanoma, DNA vaccine, tyrosinase, electroporation