Developing engineered autologous leukemia vaccines to target residual leukemic stem cells
Grant Award Details
Grant Type:
Grant Number:
TRAN1-11259
Investigator(s):
Disease Focus:
Human Stem Cell Use:
Award Value:
$4,171,728
Status:
Closed
Progress Reports
Reporting Period:
Final Operational Milestone #4
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
Developing engineered autologous leukemia vaccines to target residual leukemic stem cells
Public Abstract:
Translational Candidate
A universally applicable, patient-specific leukemia vaccine engineered to express a novel immune stimulatory combination for post-remission therapy
Area of Impact
There is a critical and unmet need for new and safe treatment for older acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients whose current prognosis is poor
Mechanism of Action
In older patients with AML, treatment with chemotherapy can produce remission in about 50%. However, the vast majority of these individuals relapse within a year due to the persistence of residual AML and leukemia stem cells. Our engineered vaccine is designed to stimulate the patient's own immune system to generate leukemia specific immune cells that can recognize, and kill residual leukemia stem cells. Vaccination after remission could increase relapse free, and even overall survival.
Unmet Medical Need
For transplant-ineligible older AML patients, outcomes are dismal and effective immunotherapies are needed. We have shown that we can eradicate leukemia in preclinical models by treating with AML vaccines, engineered to more effectively stimulate anti-leukemic immune responses.
Project Objective
Submit Pre-IND package and conduct Pre-IND meeting
Major Proposed Activities
A universally applicable, patient-specific leukemia vaccine engineered to express a novel immune stimulatory combination for post-remission therapy
Area of Impact
There is a critical and unmet need for new and safe treatment for older acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients whose current prognosis is poor
Mechanism of Action
In older patients with AML, treatment with chemotherapy can produce remission in about 50%. However, the vast majority of these individuals relapse within a year due to the persistence of residual AML and leukemia stem cells. Our engineered vaccine is designed to stimulate the patient's own immune system to generate leukemia specific immune cells that can recognize, and kill residual leukemia stem cells. Vaccination after remission could increase relapse free, and even overall survival.
Unmet Medical Need
For transplant-ineligible older AML patients, outcomes are dismal and effective immunotherapies are needed. We have shown that we can eradicate leukemia in preclinical models by treating with AML vaccines, engineered to more effectively stimulate anti-leukemic immune responses.
Project Objective
Submit Pre-IND package and conduct Pre-IND meeting
Major Proposed Activities
- Produce viral vector using clinical production methods and finalize steps for using virus to engineer novel patient-derived AML cell vaccines
- Finalize methods to collect, freeze, and engineer patient AML cell vaccines; Evaluate specificity of immune responses to AML versus normal bone marrow
- Generate engineered AML vaccines in a cell therapy production facility to establish and validate clinical manufacture; prepare for Pre-IND meeting
Statement of Benefit to California:
Curative AML treatment requires referral to a major medical center and toxic inpatient chemotherapy, creating financial and geographic challenges. Despite this therapy, most patients relapse. We propose a powerful strategy for converting patients' leukemia cells into effective vaccines that stimulate anti-leukemic immunity. Outpatient treatment with genetically engineered AML vaccines may be an effective strategy to decrease relapse by boosting anti-leukemic immune responses post-remission, .