A Phase I Study of Active Immunotherapy With Carcinoembryonic Antigen RNA-Pulsed, Autologous Human Cultured Dendritic Cells in Patients With Metastatic Malignancies Expressing Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Study start date: February 1, 1997

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma expressing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) that has failed conventional therapy Measurable or evaluable disease May include elevated CEA level No previously irradiated or known new CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Greater than 6 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute lymphocyte count at least 1,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 PT less than 1.25 times normal limit PTT less that 1.66 times normal limit Fibrinogen greater than 0.75 times normal limit Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine less than 2.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No NYHA class III or IV Pulmonary: FEV1 greater than 70% of predicted FVC greater than 70% of predicted DLCO greater than 70% of predicted No asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Other: No active or chronic infection (including urinary tract infection) No viral hepatitis HIV negative No concurrent second malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer or controlled superficial bladder cancer No hepatic disease No history of other autoimmune disease such as inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematous, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Must have recovered from all acute toxic effects Biologic therapy: No concurrent biologic therapy At least 6 weeks since biologic therapy No concurrent immunotherapy No more than 1 prior biologic regimen Chemotherapy: No concurrent chemotherapy At least 6 weeks since chemotherapy No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen Endocrine therapy: At least 6 weeks since steroid therapy Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy At least 12 weeks since therapy including Sr 89 At least 6 weeks since other radiotherapy No prior cranial radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: No concurrent immunosuppressives such as azathioprine or cyclosporine