Avax initiates lung cancer vaccine trial

The vaccine is composed of tumor cells obtained from each patient’s tumor that are modified with dinitrophenyl. Endpoints of the study include safety and a measure of each patient’s immune response to their cancer after vaccination using a delayed-type hypersensitivity test.

“Based upon previous observations of regression of melanoma lung metastases after administration of M-Vax, our AC Vaccine Therapeutic for the treatment of melanoma plus initial results obtained in our animal model, we feel there is a strong rationale for testing the vaccine in lung cancer,” Dr David Berd, chief medical officer of Avax.

The study will include patients whose lung cancers are completely resectable. They will be assigned to one of three vaccine doses, and the dose is measured by the number of cancer cells. Each dosage arm will include a maximum of 14 patients.

The study subjects will receive vaccine treatment immediately after surgery and prior to any other adjuvant treatment. Based upon anticipated enrollment the company expects to obtain initial immunological data from the study in the second quarter of 2006.