Adjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma: does higher risk for recurrence improve the chance for success?

The success of targeted therapies, including inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway or the mammalian target of rapamycin, in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma led to interest in testing their efficacy in the adjuvant setting. Results from the first trials are now available, with other studies due to report imminently. This review provides an overview of adjuvant targeted therapy in renal cell carcinoma, including interpretation of currently available conflicting data and future direction of research. We discuss the key differences between the completed targeted therapy adjuvant trials, and highlight the importance of accurately identifying patients who are likely to benefit from adjuvant treatment. We also consider reasons why blinded independent radiology review and treatment dose may prove critical for adjuvant treatment success. The implications of using disease-free survival as a surrogate end point for overall survival from the patient perspective and measurement of health benefit have recently been brought into focus and are discussed. Finally, we discuss how the ongoing adjuvant trials with targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors may improve our understanding and ability to prevent tumor recurrence after nephrectomy in the future.

A randomized phase II trial of CRLX101 in combination with bevacizumab versus standard of care in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Nanoparticle-drug conjugates enhance drug delivery to tumors. Gradual payload release inside cancer cells augments antitumor activity while reducing toxicity. CRLX101 is a novel nanoparticle-drug conjugate containing camptothecin, a potent inhibitor of topoisomerase I and the hypoxia-inducible factors 1α and 2α. In a phase Ib/2 trial, CRLX101 + bevacizumab was well tolerated with encouraging activity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We conducted a randomized phase II trial comparing CRLX101 + bevacizumab versus standard of care (SOC) in refractory mRCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with mRCC and 2-3 prior lines of therapy were randomized 1 : 1 to CRLX101 + bevacizumab versus SOC, defined as investigator's choice of any approved regimen not previously received. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) by blinded independent radiological review in patients with clear cell mRCC. Secondary end points included overall survival, objective response rate and safety. RESULTS: In total, 111 patients were randomized and received ≥1 dose of drug (CRLX101 + bevacizumab, 55; SOC, 56). Within the SOC arm, patients received single-agent bevacizumab (19), axitinib (18), everolimus (7), pazopanib (4), sorafenib (4), sunitinib (2), or temsirolimus (2). In the clear cell population, the median PFS on the CRLX101 + bevacizumab and SOC arms was 3.7 months (95% confidence interval, 2.0-4.3) and 3.9 months (95% confidence interval 2.2-5.4), respectively (stratified log-rank P = 0.831). The objective response rate by IRR was 5% with CRLX101 + bevacizumab versus 14% with SOC (Mantel-Haenszel test, P = 0.836). Consistent with previous studies, the CRLX101 + bevacizumab combination was generally well tolerated, and no new safety signal was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Despite promising efficacy data on the earlier phase Ib/2 trial of mRCC, this randomized trial did not demonstrate improvement in PFS for the CRLX101 + bevacizumab combination when compared with approved agents in patients with heavily pretreated clear cell mRCC. Further development in this disease is not planned. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFICATION: NCT02187302 (NIH).

Integrating cytokines and angiogenic factors and tumour bulk with selected clinical criteria improves determination of prognosis in advanced renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In two clinical trials of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitor pazopanib in advanced renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), we found interleukin-6 as predictive of pazopanib benefit. We evaluated the prognostic significance of candidate cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) identified in that work relative to accepted clinical parameters. METHODS: Seven preselected plasma CAFs (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, osteopontin, VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1), and E-selectin) were measured using multiplex ELISA in plasma collected pretreatment from 343 mRCC patients participating in the phase 3 registration trial of pazopanib vs placebo (NCT00334282). Tumour burden (per sum of longest diameters (SLD)) and 10 other clinical factors were also analysed for association with overall survival (OS; based on initial treatment assignment). RESULTS: Osteopontin, interleukin-6, and TIMP-1 were independently associated with OS in multivariable analysis. A model combining the three CAFs and five clinical variables (including SLD) had higher prognostic accuracy than the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium criteria (concordance-index 0.75 vs 0.67, respectively), and distinguished two groups of patients within the original intermediate risk category. CONCLUSIONS: A prognostic model incorporating osteopontin, interleukin-6, TIMP-1, tumour burden, and selected clinical criteria increased prognostic accuracy for OS determination in mRCC patients.

Assessment of progression-free survival as a surrogate end-point for overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To determine suitability of progression-free survival (PFS) as a surrogate end-point for overall survival (OS), we evaluated the relationship between PFS and OS in 750 treatment-naïve metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients who received sunitinib or interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in a phase III study. METHODS: The relationship between PFS and post-progression survival (PPS; the difference between PFS and OS) was studied, which correctly removes inherent dependencies between PFS and OS, to properly estimate whether and to what extent PFS can serve as a surrogate for OS. A Weibull parametric model to failure time data was fit to determine whether longer PFS was significantly and meaningfully predictive of longer PPS. In a sensitivity analysis by Kaplan-Meier non-parametric method, PPS curves for three approximately equal numbered groups of patients categorised by PFS were compared by log-rank test. RESULTS: In the Weibull parametric model, longer PFS was significantly predictive of longer PPS (P<0.001). The model also allowed prediction of estimated median PPS duration from actual PFS times. In the Kaplan-Meier (non-parametric) analysis, incrementally longer PFS was also associated with longer PPS, and the PPS curves for the three PFS groups were significantly different (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A positive relationship was found between PFS and PPS duration in individual mRCC patients randomised to first-line treatment with sunitinib or IFN-α. These results indicate that PFS can act as a surrogate end-point for OS in the first-line mRCC setting and provide clinical researchers with a potentially useful approach to estimate median PPS based on PFS.

Efficacy and safety of sunitinib in elderly patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analyzed sunitinib outcome as a function of age in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. METHODS: Data were pooled from 1059 patients in six trials. Kaplan-Meier estimates of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared by log-rank test between patients aged <70 (n=857; 81%) and ≥70 (n=202; 19%) years. RESULTS: In first-line patients, median PFS was comparable in younger and older patients, 9.9 vs 11.0 months, respectively (HR, 0.89; 95% CI: 0.73-1.09; P=0.2629), as was median OS, 23.6 vs 25.6 months (HR, 0.93; 95% CI: 0.74-1.18; P=0.5442). Similarly, in cytokine-refractory patients, median PFS was 8.1 vs 8.4 months (HR, 0.79; 95% CI: 0.49-1.28; P=0.3350), while median OS was 20.2 vs 15.8 months (HR, 1.14; 95% CI: 0.73-1.79; P=0.5657). Some treatment-emergent adverse events were significantly less common in younger vs older patients, including fatigue (60% vs 69%), cough (20% vs 29%), peripheral edema (17% vs 27%), anemia (18% vs 25%), decreased appetite (13% vs 29%), and thrombocytopenia (16% vs 25%; all P<0.05). Hand-foot syndrome was more common in younger patients (32% vs 24%). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age should not be a deterrent to sunitinib therapy and elderly patients may achieve additional clinical benefit.

Q-TWiST analysis to estimate overall benefit for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated in a phase III trial of sunitinib vs interferon-α.

BACKGROUND: In a randomised phase III trial of treatment-naive patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, sunitinib showed significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with interferon (IFN)-α. We assessed between-treatment differences in overall benefit using a quality-adjusted Time Without Symptoms of disease progression or Toxicity of treatment (TWiST; Gelber and Goldhirsch) analysis. METHODS: In this analysis, in which only grade 3/4 treatment-related toxicities were included, overall survival was partitioned into three health states: toxicity (time with toxicity after randomisation and before progression), time without symptoms of disease progression or toxicity, and time from progression until death. Between-treatment differences in the mean duration of each state were calculated. A threshold utility analysis was used to assess quality-adjusted TWiST (Q-TWiST) outcomes. RESULTS: Q-TWiST scores showed that quality-adjusted survival time was greater with sunitinib than with IFN-α, even though certain grade 3/4 toxicities occurred more frequently with sunitinib. For both treatments, the mean number of days with toxicity was small compared with PFS. This effect was more pronounced with sunitinib in which time spent without progression or toxicity was 151 days greater than with IFN-α. CONCLUSION: Patients randomised to sunitinib had longer clinical benefit, defined as Q-TWiST scores, than patients randomised to IFN-α.

Everolimus in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients intolerant to previous VEGFr-TKI therapy: a RECORD-1 subgroup analysis.

BACKGROUND: A relevant percentage of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma develop intolerance to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFr-TKIs) and require careful selection of subsequent treatment. This retrospective analysis evaluated the safety and efficacy of everolimus in patients enrolled in the phase-III RECORD-1 trial who discontinued previous VEGFr-TKI therapy because of toxicity. METHODS: Patients with an adverse event (AE) as their primary reason for discontinuation of previous VEGFr-TKI therapy were included. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for VEGFr-TKI-intolerant patients in each arm was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and effect on PFS (hazard ratio (HR)) was calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: In VEGFr-TKI-intolerant patients (n=58, 14%), median PFS was 5.4 months with everolimus and 1.9 months with placebo (HR: 0.32; P=0.004). In sunitinib-intolerant patients (n=26), median PFS was 5.1 months with everolimus and 2.8 months with placebo (HR: 0.28; P=0.033). Grade 3/4 AEs reported with everolimus in VEGFr-TKI-intolerant patients included infections (16%), fatigue (7%) and stomatitis (4%). The toxicity profile of everolimus was similar in the VEGFr-TKI-intolerant and overall study populations. CONCLUSION: Everolimus is well tolerated and efficacious with no increased toxicity in patients intolerant to VEGFr-TKI therapy.

Everolimus in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Subgroup analysis of patients with 1 or 2 previous vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies enrolled in the phase III RECORD-1 study.

INTRODUCTION: In the phase III RECORD-1 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00410124), patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who progressed on previous vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFr-TKI) therapy were randomised 2:1 to everolimus 10mg once daily (n=277) or placebo (n=139). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.9months with everolimus and 1.9months with placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 0.33; P<.001). This preplanned, prospective sub-analysis evaluated PFS benefit of everolimus versus placebo in patients who had previously received 1 or 2 VEGFr-TKIs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Median PFS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyse differences in PFS. RESULTS: All patients (100%) received ⩾1 previous VEGFr-TKI; 26% of patients received 2 previous VEGFr-TKIs. Among patients who received 1 previous VEGFr-TKI, median PFS was 5.4months with everolimus and 1.9months with placebo (HR, 0.32; 95%confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.43; P<.001). Among patients who received 2 previous VEGFr-TKIs, median PFS was 4.0months with everolimus and 1.8months with placebo (HR, 0.32; 95%CI, 0.19-0.54; P<.001). The everolimus safety profile was similar for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Everolimus was associated with prolonged PFS relative to placebo in patients who received 1 or 2 previous VEGFr-TKIs. Patients who received only 1 previous VEGFr-TKI had apparently longer PFS with everolimus in reference to those who received 2 previous VEGFr-TKIs. These results support the use of everolimus as the standard of care in patients who fail initial VEGFr-TKI therapy.

Prognostic factors for progression-free and overall survival with sunitinib targeted therapy and with cytokine as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was performed using final data from a randomized phase III trial of sunitinib versus interferon-α (IFN-α) as first-line metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) therapy. DESIGN: A multivariate Cox regression model analyzed baseline variables for prognostic significance. Each variable was investigated univariately and then multivariately using a stepwise algorithm. RESULTS: Each treatment arm comprised 375 patients. For sunitinib, multivariate analysis of PFS identified five independent predictors, including serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, presence of ≥2 metastatic sites, no prior nephrectomy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and baseline platelet count, while multivariate analysis of OS identified serum LDH level, corrected serum calcium level, time from diagnosis to treatment, hemoglobin level, ECOG performance status, and presence of bone metastasis as predictors. For IFN-α, LDH level and presence of ≥2 metastatic sites were common predictors of PFS to those for sunitinib, as were all predictors of OS except ECOG status. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis identified prognostic factors for PFS and OS with sunitinib as first-line metastatic RCC therapy and confirmed that the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center model is applicable in the era of targeted therapy.

Concomitant renal cell carcinoma and chronic myelogenous leukemia: use of a targeted approach.

Numerous therapeutic options have been introduced for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) in recent years, including monoclonal antibodies such as bevacizumab and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as sunitinib and sorafenib. Similarly, several other small-molecule inhibitors-including imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib-have been approved for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The combination of these targeted agents is an area of intense clinical investigation. Here, we describe a patient diagnosed with MRCC)while on imatinib therapy for cml. Treatment of this patient with the combination of bevacizumab and imatinib led to a 6-month period of stable disease, with no treatment-related adverse events. More extensive clinical exploration of this combination of agents may therefore be warranted.

Combined cytoreductive laser therapy and immunotherapy for palliation of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the head and neck.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) remains the mainstay of treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but minimally invasive surgical techniques have provided new options for the combined treatment of RCC. Two patients with metastatic RCC to the head and neck treated by combined laser-induced thermal therapy and IL-2 were described in this case report. Both patients had an extended survival compared to the historical survival of 10 months for metastatic RCC but eventually succumbed to progressive disease. The authors' initial experience with metastatic RCC suggests that laser thermoablation and immunotherapy in selected patients with metastatic RCC is warranted as a palliative treatment, but a larger study with long-term follow-up is necessary to determine the effectiveness of this approach.

Joint association of polymorphism of the FGFR4 gene and mutation TP53 gene with bladder cancer prognosis.

The impact of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) Gly388Arg polymorphism on bladder cancer is unknown. We found no clear correlations between the FGFR4 genotype and risk of bladder cancer or pathological parameters. Neither the polymorphism nor TP53 mutation status was an independent predictor of prognosis, but they might act jointly on the disease-specific survival of patients.

Phase II trial of branched peginterferon-alpha 2a (40 kDa) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Peginterferon-alpha 2a (40 kDa), PEGASYS(TM) (PEG-IFN), is a modified form of recombinant human interferon (IFN)-alpha 2a with sustained absorption and prolonged half-life after subcutaneous administration. A phase II trial was conducted in previously untreated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to assess efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetic profile. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty previously untreated patients with advanced RCC were enrolled on this multicenter trial. The median age was 60 years and 63% had prior nephrectomy. PEG-IFN was administered at a dose of 450 micro g/week on a weekly basis by subcutaneous injection. Serial venous blood samples were drawn to assess concentrations of PEG-IFN. RESULTS: Five (13%) patients achieved a major response (four partial and one complete). The median time to progression was 3.8 months, and 63% of patients were alive at 1 year. The toxicity profile was mostly mild to moderate in intensity. Toxicity higher than grade 2 included neutropenia (six patients), fatigue/asthenia (four patients), nausea/vomiting (three patients) and elevated hepatic transaminase concentrations (four patients). Serum drug levels were studied in all patients; mean C(max) at week 1 was 19 ng/ml, and levels were sustained at close to peak over 1 week. With chronic dosing, drug concentration was increased 3-fold, and steady state was achieved in 5-9 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The sustained maintenance of serum levels of PEG-IFN allows once-weekly dosing. The efficacy and tolerability profile was qualitatively similar to standard IFN-alpha, and adverse events were mostly mild to moderate in nature.

The usefulness of F-18 deoxyglucose whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) for re-staging of renal cell cancer.

PURPOSE: The use of whole-body PET for re-staging of renal cell carcinoma has not been investigated. The aim of the current study was to examine the diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of whole-body PET imaging for re-staging of renal cell cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical PET was performed for re-staging in 36 patients with advanced renal cell cancer. Written reports of imaging studies (including CT, MRI, US, plain film and bone scan), patient history, and extensive chart notes were used to define the clinical stage before PET (pre-PET stage). The written PET report was used to define the clinical stage after PET (PET stage). Reports were used to determine the accuracy of PET for re-staging renal cell cancer and for defining biopsy proven lesions. Clinical parameters and biopsy proven lesions served as reference for the accuracy of PET for re-staging renal cell cancer. RESULTS: PET classified the clinical stage correctly in 32/36 patients (89%) and was incorrect in 4/36 (11%) (sensitivity and specificity: 87% and 100%). In 20 patients, 25 suspicious lesions were biopsied within 3.2 +/- 6.7 months of the PET study. Of these, 17 were malignant and 8 were benign. PET correctly classified 21/25 (84%) of the biopsied lesions (sensitivity and specificity: 88% and 75%). CONCLUSION: PET re-stages renal cell cancer with a diagnostic accuracy of 89%. Its diagnostic accuracy for classifying biopsy proven anatomic lesions as malignant or benign was 84%. These findings suggest that PET is useful in characterizing anatomic lesions of unknown significance in patients with renal cell cancer.

Induction of G250-targeted and T-cell-mediated antitumor activity against renal cell carcinoma using a chimeric fusion protein consisting of G250 and granulocyte/monocyte-colony stimulating factor.

Immunotherapy targeting for the induction of a T-cell-mediated antitumor response in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) appears to hold significant promise. Here we describe a novel RCC vaccine strategy that allows for the concomitant delivery of dual immune activators: G250, a widely expressed RCC associated antigen; and granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), an immunomodulatory factor for antigen-presenting cells. The G250-GM-CSF fusion gene was constructed and expressed in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus expression vector system. The Mr 66,000 fusion protein (FP) was subsequently purified through a 6xHis-Ni2+-NTA affinity column and SP Sepharose/fast protein liquid chromatography. The purified FP retains GM-CSF bioactivity, which is comparable, on a molar basis, to that of recombinant GM-CSF when tested in a GM-CSF-dependent cell line. When combined with interleukin 4 (IL-4; 1000 units/ml), FP (0.34 microg/ml) induces differentiation of monocytes (CD14+) into dendritic cells (DCs) expressing surface markers characteristic for antigen-presenting cells. Up-regulation of mature DCs (CD83+CD19-; 17% versus 6%) with enhanced expression of HLA class I and class II antigens was detected in FP-cultured DCs as compared with DCs cultured with recombinant GM-CSF. Treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with FP alone (2.7 microg/10(7) cells) augments both T-cell helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine mRNA expression (IL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Comparison of various immune manipulation strategies in parallel, bulk PBMCs treated with FP (0.34 microg/ml) plus IL-4 (1000 units/ml) for 1 week and restimulated weekly with FP plus IL-2 (20 IU/ml) induced maximal growth expansion of active T cells expressing the T-cell receptor and specific anti-RCC cytotoxicity, which could be blocked by the addition of anti-HLA class I, anti-CD3, or anti-CD8 antibodies. In one tested patient, an augmented cytotoxicity against lymph node-derived RCC target was determined as compared with that against primary tumor targets, which corresponded to an 8-fold higher G250 mRNA expression in lymph node tumor as compared with primary tumor. The replacement of FP with recombinant GM-CSF as an immunostimulant completely abrogated the selection of RCC-specific killer cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures. All FP-modulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures with antitumor activity showed an up-regulated CD3+CD4+ cell population. These results suggest that GM-CSF-G250 FP is a potent immunostimulant with the capacity for activating immunomodulatory DCs and inducing a T-helper cell-supported, G250-targeted, and CD8+-mediated antitumor response. These findings may have important implications for the use of GM-CSF-G250 FP as a tumor vaccine for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer.

Reevaluation of the 1997 TNM classification for renal cell carcinoma: T1 and T2 cutoff point at 4.5 rather than 7 cm. better correlates with clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the effects of the change in TNM classification from the 1987 to the 1997 version and suggest a modified tumor size cutoff point between T stages 1 and 2 for renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated a database containing the records of 661 patients who underwent nephrectomy between 1989 and 1999. The effect of the change in TNM classification on the distribution of patients between stages, the rates of M+ and N+ disease, and the local and distant recurrence rates were outlined for 280 patients with T stages 1 and 2 disease. The Cox model was used to identify the optimal cutoff point between T1 and T2 disease, and the resulting effect of adopting this cutoff was outlined. RESULTS: A total of 174 and 128 cases were down staged from 1987 version stage T2 to 1997 version stage T1 and from 1987 TNM stage II to 1997 TNM stage I, respectively. Survival was not significantly different in patients with 1997 TNM stages I and II disease due to a lack of survival difference during the first 2 years of followup. Stage shift also caused an increase in average tumor size, the proportion of patients with high grade cancer, and M+ and N+ disease at diagnosis in 1997 stages T1 and T2 as well as an increase in the proportion of 1997 stage T2N0M0 cases at diagnosis with systemic failure. Analysis of 11 potential cutoff points between 1 and 10 cm. revealed that 4.5 cm. was most predictive of patients survival (hazards ratio 4.99, p = 0.0001). Using this cutoff resulted in improved discriminatory power of the TNM classification and a moderating effect on the distribution of patients, average tumor size, high grade disease, M+ and N+ disease at diagnosis, and systemic failure between T(14.5) and T(24.5) compared with 1997 T1 and T2. CONCLUSIONS: Our data imply that the current cutoff point of 7 cm. between stages T1 and T2 tumors is too high. Lowering the cutoff to 4.5 cm. resulted in better discriminatory power of the TNM classification in our dataset. This observation should be further validated by external data.

Interleukin 2 gene therapy for prostate cancer: phase I clinical trial and basic biology.

Twenty-four patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (CaP) were enrolled in a phase I clinical trial using gene-based immunotherapy. A functional DNA-lipid complex encoding the interleukin 2 (IL-2) gene (Leuvectin; Vical, San Diego, CA) was administered intraprostatically into the hypoecogenic tumor lesion, using transrectal ultrasound guidance. Two groups of patients having locally advanced tumors were enrolled to receive a treatment regimen composed of two serial intraprostatic injections of the IL-2 gene agent administered 1 week apart. The first groups of patients included radical prostatectomy candidates who subsequently underwent surgery after the completion of the treatment regimen. The second group consisted of patients who had failed a prior therapy. Prostate specimens of the treated areas were attained after treatment and compared with the transrectal biopsies performed at baseline to assess for any responses. IL-2 gene therapy was well tolerated, with no grade 3 or 4 toxic reactions occurring. The most commonly reported symptoms were mild hematuria, transient rectal bleeding, and perineal discomfort that are likely attributable to the injection itself. During the entire course of treatment, there were no significant changes in American Urologic Association (AUA) symptom scores, in hematologic disturbances, electrolyte imbalances, or hepatic functions. Evidence of systemic immune activation was observed after IL-2 gene therapy, based on an increase in the intensity of T cell infiltration seen on immunohistochemical analysis of tissue samples from the injected tumor sites, and based on increased proliferation rates of peripheral blood lymphocytes that were cocultured with patient serum collected after treatment. Furthermore, transient decreases in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (responders) were seen in 16 of 24 patients (67%) on day 1. Fourteen of the patients persisted in this decrease to day 8 (58%). In eight patients the PSA level rose (nonresponders). More patients (9 to 10) in the group that failed prior therapy responded to the IL-2 gene injections (chi-square test, p = 0.04), and 6 of the 9 also had lower than baseline PSA levels at week 10 after treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinical study of its kind aimed at exploring the role of IL-2-based gene therapy in CaP patients. This phase I trial demonstrated the safety of intraprostatic Leuvectin injection, with transient PSA-based responses seen after therapy.

Multi-institutional phase I/II trial of oral bexarotene in combination with cisplatin and vinorelbine in previously untreated patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Bexarotene (Targretin; Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc, San Diego, CA) is a retinoid-X-receptor (RXR)-selective retinoid with preclinical antitumor activity in squamous cell cancers. In this phase I/II trial, we combined bexarotene with cisplatin and vinorelbine in the treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients who had stage IIIB NSCLC with pleural effusion or stage IV NSCLC and had received no prior therapy received bexarotene in combination with cisplatin (100 mg/m2) and vinorelbine (alternating doses of 30 mg/m2 and 15 mg/m2). In the phase I portion, the daily dose of bexarotene was escalated in cohorts of three patients from 150 mg/m2 to 600 mg/m2, beginning 1 week before the start of the cisplatin-vinorelbine regimen. Once the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of bexarotene was determined, the study entered the phase II portion. Response rate was the primary end point; median survival time and 1-year survival rate were secondary end points. RESULTS: In the phase I portion, the daily MTD of bexarotene was determined to be 400 mg/m2. Eight of 43 patients exhibited major responses. Seven (25%) of the 28 patients in the phase II portion responded to treatment. The median survival time in the phase II portion was 14 months; nine (32%) of the 28 patients were still alive at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. One-year and projected 3-year survival rates were 61% and 30%, respectively. The most common grade 3 and 4 adverse events were hyperlipemia, leukopenia, nausea, vomiting, pneumonia, dyspnea, anemia, and asthenia. Grade 3 and 4 laboratory abnormalities with incidences greater than 5% were decreased hemoglobin levels and WBC, absolute neutrophil, and absolute lymphocyte counts and increased prothrombin time and creatinine and amylase levels. Of the two cases of pancreatitis, one required hospitalization and both were associated with increased triglyceride levels. There was one death secondary to renal insufficiency unrelated to bexarotene treatment. CONCLUSION: In patients with advanced NSCLC, bexarotene with cisplatin and vinorelbine yielded acceptable phase II response rates (25%) and was associated with better-than-expected survival (14-month median survival time; 61% 1-year, 32% 2-year, and 30% projected 3-year survival rates). The regimen should be studied in larger clinical trials.

Vaccine and gene therapy of renal cell carcinoma.

The concept of tumor vaccines is not new. However, advances in gene transfer technology, tumor immunology, molecular biology, and methods of monitoring antitumor response, have allowed for novel, more specific vaccine approaches. For example, first-generation tumor vaccines were composed of whole inactivated cancer cells, or tumor lysates (Tuly) given together with immune adjuvants like bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Current strategies include tumor cells modified with genes encoding molecules necessary to stimulate a cytotoxic T cell response, such as cytokine genes, foreign HLA genes, tumor-associated antigen (TAA) genes, and even costimulatory molecules. Activation of cellular immunity requires at least three synergistic signals including presentation of specific tumor antigens, costimulatory signals (B7 molecules), and propagation of the immune response via cytokine release. In general, tumor cells often fail to demonstrate any of these immunostimulatory properties. Dendritic cell-based vaccines are gaining popularity as these cells can properly present TAA to the immune system, thus circumventing the poor antigen-presenting qualities of tumor cells. Dendritic cells can be "loaded" with TAA or other molecules either by their natural endocytotic capabilities, or by genetic modification.