Patient-specific vaccines derived from autologous tumor cell lines as active specific immunotherapy: results of exploratory phase I/II trials in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Seventy-four (74) patients with metastatic melanoma were treated with patient-specific vaccines derived from autologous tumor cell lines. Cryopreserved irradiated tumor cells were injected weekly for 3 weeks, then monthly for 5 months. At a median follow up >6 years, the median event-free survival (EFS) was 4.

Treatment of human solid malignancies with autologous activated lymphocytes and cimetidine: a phase II trial of the cancer biotherapy research group.

Objective: The Cancer Biotherapy Research Group conducted a clinical trial to verify encouraging reports of antitumor activity of autolymphocyte therapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a variety of advanced solid malignancies underwent an initial leukapheresis procedure to collect about 5 x 10(9) autologous lymphocytes that were stimulated in vitro for 3 days with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody in the presence of indomethicin and cis-retinoic acid to obtain media that was frozen in aliquots. This media contained significant amounts of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, interferon-gamma, and IL6, but no IL-2.

Irradiated cells from autologous tumor cell lines as patient-specific vaccine therapy in 125 patients with metastatic cancer: induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity to autologous tumor is associated with improved survival.

Objective: We established short-term cultures of pure tumor cells for use as autologous tumor cell vaccines in an effort to study the effects of patients-specific immunotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Surgically resected fresh tumor was obtained from patients with metastatic cancer. Successful tumor cell lines (5 x 10(7)) were expanded to 10(8) cells, irradiated, and cryopreserved for clinical use.