A Phase I Clinical Trial of NY-ESO-1 Protein Immunization in Combination With 5-AZA-2'-Deoxycytidine (Decitabine) in Patients Receiving Liposomal Doxorubicin for Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian or Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the safety of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine) in combination with immunization with NYESO-I protein mixed with montanide and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in patients scheduled to receive liposomal doxorubicin for recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate NY-ESO-l specific cellular and humoral immunity by determination of NY-ESO-I specific antibody, CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells following immunization with NY-ESO-l protein mixed with montanide and GM-CSF in combination with 5-aza-2' -deoxycytidine (decitabine) in patients receiving liposomal doxorubicin for recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma. II. To determine the impact of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine on NY-ESO-I specific expression, NY-ESO-l promoter methylation, and global DNA methylation. III. To compare the time to progression (ttp) for the proposed therapy with the ttp for standard therapy (historical studies). OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of decitabine. Patients receive decitabine intravenously (IV) over 3 hours on day 1, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride IV on day 8, and NY-ESO-1 peptide vaccine emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant and sargramostim subcutaneously on day 15. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 6 months.