The overall goal of this proposal is to develop vaccination methods that effectively stimulate tumor antigen specific T-cells, to provide an effective immunotherapeutic strategy for tumor eradication as an adjunct to chemotherapy in women with high-risk and metastatic breast cancer. Peptides derived from HER-2, CEA and p53, capable of being presented in the context of HLA-A2, an allele present in a high proportion of the population, will be used. Response to this immunization strategy will be monitored and correlated with clinical endpoints. There are four aims: To develop an improved and practical procedure for ex-vivo generation of DCs capable of presenting breast cancer tumor antigens, and importantly, to develop more refined in vitro assessment tests that measure induction and intensity of T-cell responsiveness to tumor associated and control antigens at a clonal and lineage level.
The second aim i nvolves re-infusing the ex-vivo generated DC vaccines to determine in vivo safety and tolerability. Several in vitro tests of altered reactivity to self will also be used to explore the possible development of potentially inappropriate autoreactivity concurrent with the appearance of the expected anti tumor immunity. In the third aim, the development of specific in vivo anti tumor immunity in both CD4 and CD8 T-cell lineages following administration of ex-vivo generated DC vaccines will be monitored and correlated with clinical efficacy and outcome parameters. Because the competency of the immune system is markedly affected by high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell support, the last aim will assess the extent of immune reconstitution following sequential high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation in women with breast cancer, to identify the optimal time after completion of chemotherapy to initiate the immunization protocol in this specific group of breast cancer patients. The immunotherapy methodology established will, in principle, be applicable to certain other hematological and solid malignancies, and has the potential for providing benefit where conventional modalities of therapy have thus far proved ineffective.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23RR016078-04
Application #
6637374
Study Section
National Center for Research Resources Initial Review Group (RIRG)
Program Officer
Wilde, David B
Project Start
2000-08-01
Project End
2004-02-29
Budget Start
2003-08-01
Budget End
2004-02-29
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$117,736
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032