CDX-1307: a novel vaccine under study as treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

• Published in: Expert review of vaccines Vol. 10; no. 6; p. 733
• Main Authors: Morse, Michael A, Bradley, Deborah A, Keler, Tibor, Laliberte, Robert J, Green, Jennifer A, Davis, Thomas A, Inman, Brant A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-06-2011
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - genetics; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Neoplasm - blood; Cancer Vaccines - administration & dosage; Cancer Vaccines - adverse effects; Cancer Vaccines - immunology; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human - genetics; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human - immunology; Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Humans; Lectins, C-Type - immunology; Lectins, C-Type - metabolism; Mannose-Binding Lectins - immunology; Mannose-Binding Lectins - metabolism; Muscles - pathology; Receptors, Cell Surface - immunology; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Bladder - pathology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - immunology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - therapy
• ISSN: 1744-8395
• DOI: 10.1586/erv.11.20

Cancer vaccines have demonstrated clinical benefit, however greater efficacy could be achieved by enhancing their immunogenicity. Owing to cancer vaccines depending on uptake and cross-presentation of tumor antigens by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we hypothesized that greater immunogenicity would accompany strategies that direct antigen to APC-expressed mannose receptors, initiating a pathway increasing class I and II presentation to T cells. CDX-1307 consists of a human monoclonal antibody targeting the mannose receptor, fused to the human chorionic gonadotropin-β chain (hCG-β), a tumor antigen frequently expressed by epithelial cancers including bladder cancer. In Phase I studies of cancer patients, CDX-1307 was well tolerated and induced significant hCG-β-specific cellular and humoral immune responses when co-administered with GM-CSF and the Toll-like receptor agonists resiquimod and poly-ICLC. An ongoing Phase II trial evaluates CDX-1307 in patients with newly diagnosed, resectable, hCG-β-expressing bladder cancer, where low tumor burden and early intervention may provide greater potential for benefit.