Immunotherapy with dendritic cells pulsed by autologous dactinomycin-induced melanoma apoptotic bodies for patients with malignant melanoma

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma with autologous melanoma apoptotic bodies (MAB)-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs). Accessible tumors from eligible patients with refractory metastatic melanoma were surgically removed and processed for primary culture. The autologous tumor cells were treated with dactinomycin to obtain MAB. To generate DCs, adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in complete medium containing granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4. MAB-pulsed DCs were given either intradermally (i.d.) or intravenously. Patients were immunized at monthly intervals and boosted with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and MAB 2 weeks post-vaccination, with a maximum of four cycles. Of the 10 patients enrolled in this trial, nine were treated with MAB-pulsed DCs; two were given intravenous vaccinations and the other seven were i.d. injected. Mild tenderness in the draining lymph nodes lasting for less than 48h and enlargement of the draining lymph nodes were noted in all seven i.d. cases. Treatment-related grade 3-4 toxicity, neutropenia, skin ulceration, tumor growth at the injection site, and sepsis were not observed in any of the patients. Delayed-type hypersensitivity to KLH was observed in all patients, whereas no delayed-type hypersensitivity to autologous tumor antigens was observed. One patient achieved partial response with reduction in lung metastatic tumor mass, and a presence of vesicles in the post-vaccination KLH response. Two patients had stable disease for more than 24 months; one was still alive at the time of submission of this report, the other eventually developed multiple metastases. MAB-pulsed DC immunotherapy is well tolerated in patients with malignant melanoma; however, its efficacy is only modest. Combination with other modalities is required to enhance DC-based immunotherapy. Melanoma Res 19:309-315 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.