Conditions: Malignant Melanoma
Keywords: Malignant melanoma Stages IIB-III
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 9
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This was a Phase 1, single-arm, open-label, pilot study of NY-ESO-1 protein vaccination with imiquimod as an adjuvant in patients with resected Stage IIB, IIC, and III malignant melanoma. The primary study objective was to determine the safety of NY-ESO-1 protein/imiquimod treatment, and the secondary objective was to evaluate the immunogenicity of treatment.

Detailed description:
Patients applied imiquimod (250 mg) topically to a designated area of healthy skin on the upper inner arm or inner thigh (the cream remained on the skin overnight for 6-10 hours) every day for 5 consecutive days (i.e., for the first 5 days of Cycles 1-3 and for the first 4 days of Cycle 4). The NY-ESO-1 protein (100 μg) was injected intradermally into the imiquimod-pretreated area on Day 3 of each cycle for 4 consecutive 21-day cycles.

Safety was monitored continuously. Immunization was assessed by the generation of NY-ESO-1-specific cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assays and by the development or augmentation of NY-ESO-1-specific antibody titers, assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Blood samples were obtained for the assessment of clinical biochemistry and hematology, and physical examinations were performed at baseline, on Day 1 of each cycle, and at a follow-up visit at Week 13.

Skin biopsies of the vaccinated area were obtained 48 hours after the last injection (Day 5 of Cycle 4). To avoid irritation, imiquimod was not applied after the biopsies.

Arms:
arm 1: Patients applied topical imiquimod followed by vaccination with intradermal injections of the NY-ESO-1 protein.

Interventions: intervention 1: Imiquimod intervention 2: NY-ESO-1 protein
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Patients applied imiquimod cream at bedtime every day for 5 consecutive days (for the first 5 days of Cycles 1-3 and for the first 4 days of Cycle 4) at a dose of 250 mg as supplied in single-use packets to a 4 x 5 cm area of healthy skin, alternating among the extremities (upper inner arms and inner thighs) in each cycle. The cream was to be rubbed into the skin until it was no longer visible. Patients were encouraged to wash their hands before and after applying cream. The application site was not occluded. The next morning, 6 to 10 hours after initial application, the treated area was washed with mild soap and water to remove any residual cream. intervention 2: NY-ESO-1 protein was injected intradermally by a study physician or nurse at a dose of 100 μg into the imiquimod-pretreated area on Day 3 of each cycle for 4 consecutive 21-day cycles.

Protocol document: