Neoadjuvant intratumoral immuno-gene therapy for non-small cell lung cancer

Discov Med. 2016 Apr;21(116):275-81.

Abstract

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) remains a deadly disease despite aggressive treatment protocols which incorporate chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. These traditional approaches have reached a plateau in therapeutic benefit. There is emerging evidence suggesting that immunotherapy can serve as an alternative treatment modality for NSCLC. Our group has nearly two decades of experience involving immuno-gene therapy with Ad.hIFN-α and Ad.hIFN-β in human mesothelioma trials, and has observed both safety and efficacy in treatment of Thoracic malignancies. We have expanded the scope of our work and have obtained encouraging pre-clinical evidence suggesting a role for immunotherapy as a surgical adjuvant for NSCLC cancers. By combining immunotherapy with surgery, synergistic results have been observed. Based on these observations, we have prepared a Phase I Clinical Trial that pairs Ad.hIFN-α with surgery for patients with resectable NSCLC. Patient enrollment is likely to begin in the Summer of 2016. We hope that this trial will serve as a platform for future trials aimed at pairing immunotherapy with surgery for patients diagnosed with NSCLC.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / therapeutic use
  • Glioma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / genetics*
  • Interferon-beta / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Mesothelioma / therapy
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy / methods*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pleural Neoplasms / therapy
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / therapy

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interferon-beta