Immunogenicity of a fucosyl-GM1-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine in patients with small cell lung cancer Journal Article


Authors: Dickler, M. N.; Ragupathi, G.; Liu, N. X.; Musselli, C.; Martino, D. J.; Miller, V. A.; Kris, M. G.; Brezicka, F. T.; Livingston, P. O.; Grant, S. C.
Article Title: Immunogenicity of a fucosyl-GM1-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine in patients with small cell lung cancer
Abstract: Although small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is highly responsive to chemotherapy, relapses are common, and most patients die within 2 years of diagnosis. After initial therapy, standard treatment is observation alone. We have been investigating immunization against selected gangliosides as adjuvant therapy directed against residual and presumably resistant disease persisting after chemotherapy and irradiation. Previously, we reported that the presence of anti-GM2 ganglioside antibodies is associated with a prolonged disease-free survival in patients with melanoma, and that SCLC patients immunized with BEC2, an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody that mimics the ganglioside GD3, had a prolonged survival compared with historical controls. In the present trial, fucosyl-α1-2Galβ13GaINAcβ1-4(NeuAcα2- 3)Galβ1- 4Glcβ1-1Cer (Fuc-GM1), a ganglioside expressed on the SCLC cell surface, was selected as a target for active immunotherapy. Fuc-GM1 is present on most SCLCs but on few normal tissues. SCLC patients achieving a major response to initial therapy were vaccinated s.c. on weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16 with Fuc-GM1 (30 μg) conjugated to the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin and mixed with the adjuvant QS-21. Ten patients received at least five vaccinations and are evaluable for response. All patients demonstrated a serological response, with induction of both IgM and IgG antibodies against Fuc-GM1, despite prior treatment with chemotherapy with or without radiation. Posttreatment flow cytometry demonstrated binding of antibodies from patients' sera to tumor cells expressing Fuc-GM1. In the majority of cases, sera were also capable of complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Mild transient erythema and induration at injection sites were the only consistent toxicities. The Fuc-GM1-KLH + QS-21 vaccine is safe and immunogenic in patients with SCLC. Continued study of this and other ganglioside vaccines is ongoing.
Keywords: adult; cancer survival; controlled study; aged; middle aged; clinical trial; cisplatin; doxorubicin; diarrhea; drug targeting; skin manifestation; cancer adjuvant therapy; cancer radiotherapy; antigen expression; carboplatin; cancer immunotherapy; controlled clinical trial; phase 2 clinical trial; etoposide; lung neoplasms; myalgia; cyclophosphamide; fever; lung small cell cancer; immunoglobulin g; cancer vaccine; cancer vaccines; immunogenicity; cancer immunization; vaccination; headache; phase 1 clinical trial; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; antigen binding; antibody production; complement dependent cytotoxicity; keyhole limpet hemocyanin; hemocyanin; immunoglobulin m; vaccines, conjugate; carcinoma, small cell; qs 21; ganglioside; ganglioside antibody; subcutaneous drug administration; g(m1) ganglioside; injection pain; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Clinical Cancer Research
Volume: 5
Issue: 10
ISSN: 1078-0432
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 1999-10-01
Start Page: 2773
End Page: 2779
Language: English
PUBMED: 10537341
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 16 August 2016 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Stefan C Grant
    30 Grant
  2. Maura N Dickler
    263 Dickler
  3. Govindaswami Ragupathi
    144 Ragupathi
  4. Vincent Miller
    270 Miller
  5. Mark Kris
    869 Kris
  6. Nancy X Liu
    4 Liu