Past Clinical Trials

The trials listed below are closed and no longer accruing patients.
Click the Open clinical Trials link below to return to our current clinical trials page.

Open Clinical Trials



E2603 trial (for patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma)

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trial of Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and BAY 43-9006 versus Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Placebo in Patients with Unresectable Locally Advanced or Stage IV Melanoma

Click here for trial information



Mel 44 trial (for patients with stage IIB to IV melanoma)

A Multicenter Trial to Evaluate the Effects of Administration of Cyclophosphamide and Melanoma-Derived Helper Peptides on the Immunogenicity of a Class I MHC-Restricted Peptide-Based Vaccine in Participants with Resected Melanoma

Click here for trial information.

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GI 37 trial  Evaluation of the Immunogenicity of Vaccination with Her-2/neu and CEA Derived Synthetic Peptides with GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant, in Patients with Stage IIB, III, or IV Colorectal Cancer

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Mel 16 trial

Study of Peptide 946 Melanoma Vaccine (Peptide 946), Peptide 946 Combined with Tetanus Peptide Melanoma Vaccine, or Peptide 946-Tetanus Peptide Conjugate in Patients with High Risk Melanoma

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Mel 32 trial

Randomized Study of Antigen-Pulsed Autologous Dendritic Cells for Induction of Antitumor Immunity in Patients Completing Lymphadenectomy for Metastatic Melanoma

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Mel 33 trial

Randomized Study of Immunotherapy With Polyvalent Melanoma Vaccine (CancerVax) Plus BCG Versus BCG Plus Placebo Following Surgery in Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

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Mel 36 trial 

Pilot Phase II Trial for the Evaluation of the Effect of Systemic Low-dose IL-2 on the Immunogenicity of a Vaccine Comprising Synthetic Melanoma Peptides Administered with GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant, in Patients with High Risk Melanoma

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Mel 41 trial 

Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of Vaccination with Multiple Synthetic Melanoma Peptides Recognized by Helper T-Cells, in Patients with Advanced Melanoma

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Mel 42 trial 

Phase II Trial for the Evaluation of the Efficacy of Vaccination with Synthetic Melanoma Peptides Administered with GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant in Patients with Advanced Melanoma

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Mel 43 trial

Evaluation of Local GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant and the Number of Vaccine Sites on Immunization with Multiple Synthetic Melanoma Peptides

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Mel 45 trial 

Evaluation of Different Adjuvants for the Transdermal Administration of a Peptide-Based Vaccine in Patients with High-Risk Melanoma

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 Trial Summaries

 

E2603 trial

Title: 
A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trial of Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and BAY 43-9006 versus Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and placebo in Patients with Unresectable Locally Advanced or Stage IV Melanoma (E2603)

Principal Investigator: Craig Slingluff, MD

Contact: Johanna Loomba at (434)243-5946 or jloomba@virginia.edu.


Trial Summary

The Human Immune Therapy Center of the Cancer Center at the University of Virginia Health System seeks adults with melanoma for a research study.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good and/or bad, of carboplatin and paclitaxel when given with BAY 43-9006 or placebo to participants with melanoma. BAY 43-9006 is investigational and has not been approved by the FDA for use in melanoma. Carboplatin and paclitaxel are FDA approved for use in other types of cancer, but are investigational for use in melanoma.

Participants will be randomized into one of the two study groups. Randomization means that participants will be put into a group by chance.  Depending on the randomization, participants will receive carboplatin, paclitaxel and BAY43-9006 or carboplatin, paclitaxel and placebo.

Participants will undergo physical examinations, scans, and blood tests as part of the study. They will also receive carboplatin and paclitaxel in an outpatient setting at the UVA Cancer Center Clinic every three weeks as an infusion through a vein. In addition, depending on the randomization, they will take either a placebo pill or BAY 43-9006 for no more than ten chemotherapy treatments. Participants will take BAY 43-9006 or placebo at home.

Participants may receive these drugs for about 8-10 months, and may continue to take BAY 43-9006 when appropriate. Participants will undergo at least one follow-up visit at UVA Cancer Center; thereafter, participants will receive an annual phone call to follow-up on their condition for up to 5 years.


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Mel 44 trial 

Title: Evaluation of the Effects of Administration of Cyclophosphamide and Melanoma Derived Helper Peptides on the Immunogenicity of a Class I MHC-Restricted Peptide-Based Vaccine in Patients with Resected Melanoma

Principal Investigator: Craig Slingluff, MD

Trial Summary

The Human Immune Therapy Center of the Cancer Center at the University of Virginia Health System invites adults with melanoma that has been surgically removed to enroll in a research study.

The purpose of the study is to test investigational vaccines developed by the UVA Human Immune Therapy Center to see if they are safe to use in people with melanoma. Prior to, during, and after enrollment, physical examinations, blood tests, CT scans, skin testing,and lymph node mapping tests will be required. If enrolled, subjects will be randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups. Each group will receive a vaccine with a slightly differing formulation. The study involves 10 vaccine treatments over a one-year time period. All those enrolled will have blood drawn and physical exams during return visits to monitor general health and response to study vaccines. Participants will also have CT scans and a diary to complete to chronicle the effects of the treatments. Participants will be followed for three years after the cessation of treatment to monitor for long-term side effects.

Participant or participant's insurance will be responsible for the cost of required procedures.

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Mel 16 trial

Study of Peptide 946 Melanoma Vaccine (Peptide 946), Peptide 946 Combined with Tetanus Peptide Melanoma Vaccine, or Peptide 946-Tetanus Peptide Conjugate in Patients with High Risk Melanoma

Rationale:

Vaccines made from peptide 946 may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells.  Combining these vaccines with proteins from the tetanus vaccine, and/or with either QS21 or incomplete Freund's adjuvant may be an effective treatment for metastatic melanoma.

Purpose:

This is a randomized phase I trial to study the effectiveness of vaccines made from peptide 946 with or without tetanus peptide, QS21, or incomplete Freund's adjuvant in treating patients with metastatic melanoma that cannot be surgically removed or with melanoma that is likely to recur.

Eligibility:

  • Stage IIB, III, IV resected melanoma
  • No measurable disease
  • 18-79 years old
  • At least 3 months since chemotherapy, steroid therapy, or treatment with interferons 
  • No previous melanoma vaccinations

Outline:  

Patients will be randomized to receive one of six vaccines. All the vaccines will contain peptide 946 but will differ depending on whether they contain tetanus peptide, QS21, or incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Patients will be vaccinated on day 1 and then once a month at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of the trial. Patients will receive a follow-up evaluation at 6 and 12 months after the end of treatment. This abstract is intended to give a brief overview of this clinical trial. To help determine whether the trial is appropriate for an individual, selected major eligibility criteria are listed above.

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Mel 32 trial

Randomized Study of Antigen-Pulsed Autologous Dendritic Cells for Induction of Antitumor Immunity in Patients Completing Lymphadenectomy for Metastatic Melanoma

Rationale:

Vaccines made from a person's white blood cells and melanoma cells may make the body build an immune response and kill the tumor cells.

Purpose:

Randomized phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of vaccine therapy made from white blood cells and melanoma cells in treating patients with metastatic melanoma who are undergoing surgery for lymph node and tumor removal.

Eligibility:

  • 18-75 years old 
  • No distant metastases 
  • At least 4 weeks since treatment for melanoma 
  • At least 3 months since interferon therapy

Outline:

Approximately 1-2 weeks following surgery for lymph node and tumor removal, patients will undergo leukapheresis to collect their white blood cells. Patients will receive a vaccine made from white blood cells and melanoma cells. Vaccine therapy will be followed by injections of interleukin-2 twice a day for 3 days. Patients will receive treatment once a month for 4 months. Patients will receive follow-up evaluations for 5 years. This abstract is intended to give a brief overview of this clinical trial. To help determine whether the trial is appropriate for an individual, selected major eligibility criteria are listed above.

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Mel 33 trial

Randomized Study of Immunotherapy With Polyvalent Melanoma Vaccine (CancerVax) Plus BCG Versus BCG Plus Placebo Following Surgery in Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

Rationale:

Vaccines may make the body build an immune response that will kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether BCG vaccine plus melanoma vaccine is more effective than BCG vaccine alone after surgery to remove stage IV melanoma.

Purpose:

Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of BCG vaccine with or without melanoma vaccine in treating patients who have undergone surgery to remove stage IV melanoma.

Eligibility:

  • 18-75 years old 
  • No bone metastases 
  • No previous vaccine therapy 
  • At least 30 days since biological therapy, chemotherapy, steroids , or radiation therapy

Outline:

Patients will be randomized to receive either melanoma vaccine or a placebo every 2 weeks for five courses.  They will then receive treatment once every 4 weeks for the first year, once every 8 weeks for the second year, and then once every 12 weeks for the next 3 years. All patients will also receive the BCG vaccine with the first two courses of treatment. Treatment may continue for up to 5 years. Quality of life will be assessed before the first treatment, at 2, 6, and 12 months, and then every 6 months for the next 4 years. Patients will be evaluated at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months, every 4 months for the second year, and then every 6 months for the next 3 years. This abstract is intended to give a brief overview of this clinical trial. To help determine whether the trial is appropriate for an individual, selected major eligibility criteria are listed above.

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Mel 36 trial
 

Pilot Phase II Trial for the Evaluation of the Effect of Systemic Low-dose IL-2 on the Immunogenicity of a Vaccine Comprising Synthetic Melanoma Peptides Administered with GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant, in Patients with High Risk Melanoma

Rationale:

In an original clinical trial of vaccination with four melanoma peptides, the same peptides that will be used in the current trial, we have observed prominent T-cell responses in the sentinel immunized lymph nodes. However, toxicity associated with the vaccine regimen appears to be largely attributable to the IL-2. Though there is rationale for including IL-2 in the proposed vaccine, its value in this setting is not known. The clinical study proposed here is a pilot study that will test the hypothesis that systemic Low-dose IL-2 therapy significantly enhances the immunologic efficacy of a vaccine comprising melanoma peptides plus GM-CSF-in-adjuvant.

Eligibility:

  • 18-75 years old 
  • No bone metastases 
  • No previous vaccine therapy 
  • At least 30 days since biological therapy, chemotherapy, steroids , or radiation therapy

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Mel 41 trial
 

Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of Vaccination with Multiple Synthetic Melanoma Peptides Recognized by Helper T-Cells, in Patients with Advanced Melanoma

Objectives:

The goal of this study is to see if an experimental vaccine composed of synthetic copies of peptides made by melanoma tumor cells safely causes an immune response against melanoma when administered in GM-CSF and Montanide.  

Eligibility:  Patients must fit the following criteria:

  • Diagnosed with stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV melanoma
         Patients may have had multiple primary lesions
         Patients are eligible regardless of site of primary tumor
  • Age 18 years or older
  • Laboratory parameters as follows:
         HLA-DR1, -DR4, -DR11, -DR13, or -DR15 +
         ANC > 1000/mm3, platelets > 100,000/mm3, Hgb > 9 g/dL
         AST, ALT, and Bilirubin up to 2.5 times the upper limits of normal
         Creatinine up to 1.5 times the upper limits of normal
         HIV negative, Hepatitis C negative
         Diabetic patients must have a HGBA1C level of <7%   
  • ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
  • At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy or radiation
  • At least 6 weeks since nitrosoureas
  • At least 4 weeks since growth factors, interleukins, or corticosteroids
  • Patients with brain metastases may be eligible if the following are true:
    1)  The total number of brain metastases ever is less than or equal to 3
    2)  The brain metastases have been completely removed by surgery or have been treated completely by stereotactic radiotherapy.  Stereotactic radiotherapy, such as gamma knife, can be used up to 1 week prior to study entry
    3)  There has been no evident growth of any brain metastasis since treatment
    4)  No treated brain metastsis is greater than 2 cm in diameter at the time of protocol entry
  • Patients must have at least two intact axillary and/or inguinal lymph node basins
  • Patients may not have been vaccinated previously with any of the peptides included in this protocol
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Without brain metastasis unless meet certain criteria
  • Without New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Outline:

Patients enrolled in this study will be randomly assigned to receive a low, medium, or high dose of peptide vaccine.  The dose of vaccine does not always equal the best immune response.  The vaccine will be given once a week for six weeks.  On day 22, the sentinel immunized node (the lymph node draining the vaccination site) will be removed to see if the immune system is responding to the vaccine. 

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Mel 42 trial
 

Phase II Trial for the Evaluation of the Efficacy of Vaccination with Synthetic Melanoma Peptides Administered with GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant in Patients with Advanced Melanoma

Rationale

The peptides used in this vaccine are synthetic copies of peptides made by melanoma tumor cells.  In theory, vaccinating with these peptides in GM-CSF and Montanide will activate the immune system to recognize and kill melanoma tumor cells.  GM-CSF is known to attract dendritic cells (a type of white blood cell that starts immune responses in the body) and Montanide allows for slow release of GM-CSF.

Objectives:

The purpose of this trial is to determine if an experimental vaccine will cause a melanoma tumor to shrink or stop growing by initiating an immune response against the tumor cells. 

Eligibility :  Patients must fit the following criteria.

  • Diagnosed with advanced, unresectable stage III or IV melanoma
  • Age 12 years or older
  • At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy, interferon, or radiation
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Without brain metastasis unless meet certain criteria
  • Without another cancer diagnosis except for the following:  squamous or basal cell skin cancer without metastasis, carinoma in situ of the breast or cervix, or any cancer without distant metastasis that has been treated successfully without evidence of recurrence for over five years
  • Without active pulmonary disease
  • Without Class III or IV heart disease

Outline:

Tumor will be removed prior to receiving vaccines.  Vaccines will then be given once a week for six weeks.  On day 22, the lymph node draining the vaccination site will be removed using a common procedure to see of the immune system is responding to the vaccine.  Blood will be drawn six times during the study.

Click here to learn more about the sentinel lymph node biopsy.

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Mel 43 trial

Evaluation of Local GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant and the Number of Vaccine Sites on Immunization with Multiple Synthetic Melanoma Peptides

Rationale

The peptides used in this vaccine are synthetic copies of peptides made by melanoma tumor cells.  In theory, vaccinating with these peptides in GM-CSF and/or Montanide will activate the immune system to recognize and kill melanoma tumor cells.  GM-CSF is known to attract dendritic cells (a type of white blood cell that starts immune responses in the body) and Montanide allows for slow release of GM-CSF.

Objectives:

The purpose of this trial is to determine if GM-CSF and vaccination at two sites instead of one cause greater immune responses.   

Eligibility Patients must fit the following criteria.

  • Diagnosed with resected high-risk melanoma (stage IIB-IV) 
  • Age 12 years or older
  • HLA-A1, -A2, and -A3
  • At least 4-6 weeks since chemotherapy, interferon, or radiation
  • Not pregnant
  • Without ocular melanoma 
  • Without another cancer diagnosis except for the following:  squamous or basal cell skin cancer without metastasis, carinoma in situ of the breast or cervix, or any cancer without distant metastasis that has been treated successfully without evidence of recurrence for over five years
  • Without Class III or IV heart disease

Outline:

Four different groups will be studied:  Groups A, B, C, and D are listed below with a brief outline of what will be received by patients of each group. 

Group A:  12 melanoma peptides and Montanide at one vaccination site
Group B:  12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and Montanide at one vaccination site
Group C :  12 melanoma peptides and Montanide at two vaccination sites
Group D:  12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and Montanide at two vaccination sites

Vaccines will be given once a week for six weeks.  Blood will be drawn six times during the study. 

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Mel 45 trial
 

Evaluation of Different Adjuvants for the Transdermal Administration of a Peptide-Based Vaccine in Patients with High-Risk Melanoma

Objectives:

The purpose of this trial is to determine if trandsdermal vaccination with synthetic copies of peptides made by melanoma tumor cells in GM-CSF and Montanide in different adjuvants will initiate an immune response against tumor cells. 

Eligibility:  Patients must fit the following criteria.

  • Diagnosed with stage II, III, or IV melanoma with no evidence of disease after surgical resection 
  • Age 12 years or older
  • Laboratory parameters as follows:
         HLA-A1, -A2, or -A3+
         ANC > 1000/mm3, platelets > 100,000/mm3, Hgb > 9 g/dL
         HGBA1C < 7% (required for patients with diabetes)
         AST, ALT, and Bilirubin up to 2.5 times the upper limits of normal
         Alkaline phosphatase up to 2.5 times the upper limits of normal
         Creatinine up to 1.5 times the upper limits of normal
         LDH up to 1.5 times the upper limits of normal
         HIV negative, Hepatitis C negative 
  • ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
  • Patients must have at least one intact axillary and/or inguinal lymph node basin
  • At least 4 weeks and less than 12 months since surgery
  • At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy, interferon, or radiation
  • At least 6 weeks since nitrosoureas
  • At least 4 weeks since growth factors, interleukins, or corticosteroids
  • Patients who have recurred during or after administration of a previous vaccine regimen will be eligible to enroll 12 weeks after the last vaccination 
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding 
  • Without New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Outline:

Four different groups will be studied:  Arms 1, 2, 3, and 4 are listed below with a brief outline of what will be received by patients of each group. 

Arm 1:  12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and Montanide administered transdermally for the first three vaccinations and intradermally and subcutaneously for the remaining six vaccinations

Arm 2:  Imiquimod administered topically three times throughout the vaccination regimen; 12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and Montanide administered transdermally for the first three vaccinations and intradermally and subcutaneously for the remaining six vaccinations

Arm 3:  12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and DMSO administered transdermally for the first three vaccinations; 12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and Montanide administered intradermally and subcutaneously for the remaining six vaccinations

Arm 4:  Imiquimod administered topically three times throughout the vaccination regimen; 12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and DMSO administered transdermally for the first three vaccinations; 12 melanoma peptides, GM-CSF, and Montanide and intradermally and subcutaneously for the remaining six vaccinations

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