Phase I/II Study to Assess the Safety and Activity of Enhanced TCR Transduced Autologous T Cells in Metastatic Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed melanoma stage III/IV, unresectable. Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as >10 mm with spiral CT scan.
• One prior cytotoxic therapy for the treatment of metastatic disease is allowed. Unlimited regimens using biological agents (vaccines), immunotherapy, or targeted agents is permitted. For example, BRAF inhibitors and ipilimumab are permitted. Patients must have fully recovered from the acute toxicities related to any prior therapy. Prior therapy must be completed >28 days before the first dose of cyclophosphamide.
• Age ≥ 18 years.
• Life expectancy of greater than 3 months.
• ECOG performance status ≤ 1

• Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

  • leukocytes ≥ 3,000/mcL
  • absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL
  • platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
  • total bilirubin within normal institutional limits
  • AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT)≤ 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal
  • creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dl OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
• Tumor must express the cancer-testis antigen as determined by the study laboratory. The patient must express the appropriate HLA class I allele (HLA-A1 for MAGE-3 and HLA-A2 for NY-ESO-1).
• The effects of transduced T cells on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. For this reason and because cyclophosphamide is known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
• Ability of the patient (or legally authorized representative if applicable) to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have had 2 or more regimens containing cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic melanoma.
• Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents.
• Patients with active brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events.
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to cyclophosphamide or other agents used in the study.
• Active infection.
• Prior malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer) within 3 years.
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study because cyclophosphamide has the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with cyclophosphamide, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with cyclophosphamide. These potential risks may also apply to other agents used in this study.
• Positive serology for HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C. Patients are excluded due to the immunosuppressive dose of cyclophosphamide used and the unknown risks associated with viral replication.