Pilot study of a novel combination of two therapeutic vaccines in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients

Abstract

Cancer vaccines contain tumor antigens in a pro-inflammatory context with the purpose to generate potent antitumor immune responses. However, tumor cells develop different immunosuppressive mechanisms that limit the effectiveness of an anticancer immune response. Therefore, therapeutic vaccine treatment alone is usually not sufficient to generate tumor regression or survival improvement, especially in the advanced disease scenario in which most clinical studies have been conducted. Combining cancer vaccines with different anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other immunotherapeutic agents has had different levels of success. However, the combination of cancer vaccines with different mechanisms of action has not been explored in clinical trials. To address this issue, the current review summarizes the main clinical and immunological results obtained with two different therapeutic vaccines used in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients, inducing an immune response against epidermal growth factor (CIMAvax-EGF) and NGcGM3 ganglioside (racotumomab). We also discuss preliminary findings obtained in a trial of combination of these two vaccines and future challenges with these therapies.

Belagenpumatucel-L for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

“…A Phase III trial in stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients was recently concluded [25]. Preliminary results showed that patients who have received the EGF vaccine had a longer OS than placebo-treated patients (11.2 vs 7.7 months, p = 0.016) [26]. Currently, this vaccine is licensed in Cuba for stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients who did not experience disease progression after frontline platinum-based chemotherapy.…”

Clinical cancer immunotherapy: Current progress and prospects

“…Multiple studies are reporting that personalized vaccines have good efficacy in the treatment of melanoma ( 94 , 95 ). A combination with immune checkpoints is also an important research direction and can show better efficacy than a single vaccine therapy ( 96 ). In addition to DC vaccines, therapeutic vaccines include tumor cell vaccines, DNA/mRNA vaccines, and peptide vaccines ( 97 ).…”

Molecular Recognition of Gangliosides and Their Potential for Cancer Immunotherapies

“…For example, based on the important roles of NeuGc GM3 and the EGFR for tumor cell immune evasion and proliferation, a combination therapy targeting both molecules may provide a rationale for fighting tumor cells. This combination is currently tested using Racotumomab and a vaccine targeting EGF in NSCLC patients, showing, so far, promising clinical results (152). …”