Anti-Metastatic Gene Therapy Turns On Immune System
When cancer researchers tried a gene therapy vaccine against metastatic prostate cancer cells, they were astonished to see that every part of the human immune system responded by recognizing those cells as a potential infection and attacking them.
Johns Hopkins cancer researchers reported the successful use of human gene therapy to activate the human immune system against metastatic prostate cancer. The achievement, believed to be a first, could have implications in the treatment of many kinds of cancer.
The Hopkins team injected a genetically engineered cancer vaccine in 11 prostate cancer patients whose cancer continued to spread following total surgical removal of their prostate glands.
"We were astounded to find that every part of the immune system was alerted and turned on," says Jonathan Simons, M.D., associate professor of oncology and urology and principal investigator of this study, funded by the CaP Cure Foundation, the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Initiative.
"Using gene therapy, we re-educated the immune system to recognize prostate cancer cells as a potential infection and attack," Dr. Simons says.
To create the vaccine, the researchers used cancer cells removed from the patient's own prostate tumor during surgery and grew them in the laboratory. GM-CSF, the most potent gene known to activate the immune system to recognize tumor antigens, was inserted into the cancer vaccine cells. The GM-CSF gene transfer into the cells was accomplished via a retrovirus genetically engineered to be safe in humans.
The GM-CSF gene-engineered prostate cancer vaccine was then irradiated to prevent the cancer cells from growing and then injected into the patient's thigh like a flu shot.
Within four weeks of vaccination, the researchers were able to detect circulation of immune cells throughout the bloodstream. Patients' B-cells produced antibodies against prostate cells, and their T-cells directly attacked the tumor, the researchers report.
Once re-educated to see prostate cells as foreign bodies, antigens on the cells' surface serve as red flags to the immune system, causing it to seek out and destroy them.
"The gene we used to turn on the immune system is so good that it activates everything," says William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D. "We were not surprised to see T-cell activation, the arm of the immune system triggered by viruses, but this vaccine also stimulated new high-level antibody production. Such a complete and thorough activation of the immune system against prostate cancer has never before been seen," he says.
All prostate cells are targets for this type of gene therapy because any prostate cell that survives surgery has the potential to turn malignant and become lethal to the patient. However, since the prostate is not a vital organ, the researchers say destruction of the prostate cells is safe and should not lead to incontinence or impotency as other therapies sometimes can.
In fact, the therapy is so well tolerated by patients that no hospitalization is required. The only side effects associated with this therapy are flu-like symptoms and redness and itchiness at the vaccine site for several days.
"The idea of using the immune system against prostate cancer is quite novel, but offers real hope because many of our conventional treatments do not kill metastatic cells efficiently," says Simons. "Genetically engineered vaccines like this could make a real difference when used as adjuvant therapy to 'mop up' microscopic cancer cells left behind following surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy," he continues.
"The ability to activate the immune system to produce antibodies against cancer provides critical new fundamental information that will broaden the potential of these gene therapy trials," Simons notes.
Based on the research, reported in Cancer Research in the October 15 issue (not actually published until October 20), Simons, Nelson, and team currently are conducting larger trials using a genetically engineered prostate cancer vaccine that does not require surgery.
(Editor's Note: Advanced prostate cancer patients can obtain information about these trials by calling 410-614-4234.)
Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy, striking more than 330,000 men in the United States each year. New therapies are urgently needed for the approximately 40,000 men who die each year because their cancer has spread beyond the prostate to the bone marrow and other vital tissues and organs.
In addition to Simons and Nelson, other participants in this study included Bahar Mikhak, Ju-Fay Chang, Angelo M. DeMarzo, Michael A. Carducci, Michael Lim, Christine E. Weber, Angelo A. Baccala, Marti A. Goemann, Shirley M. Clift, Dale G. Ando, Hyam J. Levitsky, Lawrence K. Cohen, Martin G. Sanda, Richard C. Mulligan, Alan W. Partin, H. Ballentine Carter, Steven Piantadosi, and Fray F. Marshall.
Partial funding for the study described in this news release was provided by Cell Genesys Inc. Under a licensing agreement between The Johns Hopkins University and Cell Genesys, Dr. Levitsky is entitled to a share of royalty received by the University from sales of the licensed technology. Dr. Piantadosi is a consultant to Cell Genesys. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by the University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.
Related website:
The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center
[Contact: Vanessa Wasta]
21-Oct-
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