Journal of immunotherapy
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Journal of immunotherapy · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialA phase 2 trial of bevacizumab and high-dose interferon alpha 2B in metastatic melanoma.
Bevacizumab is a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody that neutralizes vascular endothelial growth factor, an agent with proangiogenic effects in melanoma. Interferon alpha (IFN-α) has antiangiogenic properties through its ability to downregulate basic-fibroblast growth factor levels. We hypothesized that the coadministration of these agents would lead to tumor regression. ⋯ Significantly lower fibroblast growth factor levels were observed in patients with a partial response compared to those with stable or progressive disease (P=0.040). Administration of bevacizumab with IFN led to a clinical response in 24% of patients with stage IV melanoma and stabilization of disease in another 20% of patients. This regimen has activity in advanced melanoma.
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Journal of immunotherapy · Jul 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialInterferon-gamma or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor administered as adjuvants with a vaccine of irradiated autologous tumor cells from short-term cell line cultures: a randomized phase 2 trial of the cancer biotherapy research group.
The objective was to study the effects of patient-specific vaccine immunotherapy administered with either interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in patients with metastatic cancer. Short-term cell lines were established from cancer tissue resected from patients with metastatic cancer for use as autologous tumor cell vaccines. Successful cultures were expanded to 1 to 2 x 108 cells, irradiated, and cryopreserved in aliquots of 106 cells for intradermal testing of delayed tumor hypersensitivity and 107 cells for subcutaneous vaccinations. ⋯ Both adjuvants were well tolerated and results were similar in both arms of the study. Both adjuvants were associated with a 25% to 30% rate of DTH conversion and a 25% 5-year survival rate. Immune recognition of autologous tumor can be induced with this approach.