Q1 · CROSS-FIELD
ArticleOA
Author: Bos, Kevin J H ; Hins-de Bree, Simone ; van Rossum, Michelle M ; Boers-Sonderen, Marye J ; Boomsma, Martijn F ; Pots, Jeanne M ; Haanen, John B A G ; de Witte, Theo J M ; Koornstra, Rutger H T ; Nagarajah, James ; de Groot, Jan Willem B ; Wortel, Inge M N ; de Vries, I Jolanda M ; Koeneman, Bouke J ; van Meeteren, Wilmy S ; van Grünhagen, Dirk J ; de Goede, Anna L ; de Wilt, Johannes H W ; Angerer, Caroline ; Werner, Johanna E M ; de Ruiter, Valeska ; Gerritsen, Winald R ; Gotthardt, Martin ; van der Veldt, Astrid A ; Duiveman-de Boer, Tjitske ; Scharenborg, Nicole M ; Bonenkamp, Johannes J ; Brüning, Mareke ; Petry, Katja ; van Willigen, Wouter W ; Bloemendal, Martine ; Croockewit, Sandra J ; Dzionek, Andrzej ; Aarntzen, Erik H J ; de Boer, Annemiek J ; van Oorschot, Tom G M ; Creemers, Jeroen H A ; Olde Nordkamp, Michel A M ; Bol, Kalijn F ; Schreibelt, Gerty ; Textor, Johannes ; Figdor, Carl G ; van de Rakt, Mandy W M M ; Popelier, Carlijn J
AbstractAutologous natural dendritic cells (nDCs) treatment can induce tumor-specific immune responses and clinical responses in cancer patients. In this phase III clinical trial (NCT02993315), 148 patients with resected stage IIIB/C melanoma were randomized to adjuvant treatment with nDCs (n = 99) or placebo (n = 49). Active treatment consisted of intranodally injected autologous CD1c+ conventional and plasmacytoid DCs loaded with tumor antigens. The primary endpoint was the 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, whereas the secondary endpoints included median RFS, 2-year and median overall survival, adverse event profile, and immunological response The 2-year RFS rate was 36.8% in the nDC treatment group and 46.9% in the control group (p = 0.31). Median RFS was 12.7 months vs 19.9 months, respectively (hazard ratio 1.25; 90% CI: 0.88−1.79; p = 0.29). Median overall survival was not reached in both treatment groups (hazard ratio 1.32; 90% CI: 0.73−2.38; p = 0.44). Grade 3−4 study-related adverse events occurred in 5% and 6% of patients. Functional antigen-specific T cell responses could be detected in 67.1% of patients tested in the nDC treatment group vs 3.8% of patients tested in the control group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, while adjuvant nDC treatment in stage IIIB/C melanoma patients generated specific immune responses and was well tolerated, no benefit in RFS was observed.