Immunization of cancer patients with autologous cancer-derived heat shock protein gp96 preparations: A pilot study

Heat shock protein (HSP)-peptide complexes isolated from murine cancers eli cit protective immunity and T lymphocytes specific for the cancer from whic h the HSPs are isolated. A pilot study was designed to test the feasibility , immunogenicity and toxicity of such treatment in cancer patients. Sixteen patients with assorted advanced malignancies, which had become refractory to established therapies, were recruited. The gp96 vaccine was prepared for each patient from tumor obtained from that patient, Anti-tumor immune resp onses were evaluated using Elispot assays of T cells in peripheral blood af ter minimal in vitro stimulation, No unacceptable vaccine-related toxicitie s or auto-immune reactions were observed, Immunization with autologous gp96 elicited MHC I-restricted, tumor-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes in 6/12 pat ients immunized, In addition, expansion of the NK cell population was seen in 8/13 of patients immunized. These observations are entirely consistent w ith the murine experience and form a firm basis for future trials with clin ical end points, using autologous, patient-specific HSP-peptide vaccines. I nt, J. Cancer 88:232-238, 2000, (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.