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Poster Presentation
Correlation of HER2/neu antibody response to clinical response in a Phase II trial of the ae37+gm-csf her2 peptide vaccine
  1. Julia Greene1,
  2. Erika Schneble1,
  3. Jonathan Martin1,
  4. Maddie Flores1,
  5. Alfred Trappey1,
  6. John Berry1,
  7. Timothy Vreeland1,
  8. Diane Hale1,
  9. Guy Clifton2,
  10. Sonia A Perez3,
  11. Michael Papamichail3,
  12. George Peoples4,
  13. Elizabeth Mittendorf2 and
  14. Sathibalan Ponniah5
  1. Aff1 grid.416653.30000 0004 4686 9756San Antonio Military Medical Center Fort Sam Houston TX USA
  2. Aff2 grid.240145.60000000122914776MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
  3. Aff3 grid.416564.4Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy CenterSaint Savas Cancer Hospital Athens Greece
  4. Aff4 grid.265436.00000000104215525Cancer Vaccine Development ProgramUniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda MD USA
  5. Aff5 grid.265436.00000000104215525Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda MD USA

https://doi.org/10.1186/2051-1426-2-S3-P90

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    Meeting abstracts

    Background

    We are conducting a Phase II clinical trial of the HER2 peptide vaccine AE37+GM-CSF for prevention of breast cancer recurrence in disease-free, node-positive or high-risk node-negative patients, who have completed standard of care therapy. AE37, an Ii-Key hybrid of the HER2/neu derived peptide AE36 (aa:776-790), is an MHC Class II epitope capable of stimulating CD4+ helper T cells. Here, we examine the relationship between HER2 antibody response (AR) and clinical recurrence (CR).

    Methods

    Patients with any level of HER2 expression (IHC1-3+) were randomized to receive six monthly intradermal inoculations of AE37+GM-CSF or GM-CSF alone (controls) during the primary vaccination series (PVS) then four booster vaccinations administered every six months. Prior to vaccination (R0) and after the PVS (R6), serum samples were tested for AR against 178 overlapping 17-mer peptides spanning the entire HER2 protein molecule. Using flow cytometry, the percentage of anti-HER2 specific antibodies was measured and expressed as mean fluorescent intensity (MFI). Sub group analysis was completed on HER2 over-expressers (OE) (IHC3+) versus non over-expressers (nOE) (IHC1-2+) and hormone receptor positive (HR+) (ER or PR+) versus HR- patients. Data are means and compared using a chi-square and students t test as appropriate.

    Results

    Of 298 enrolled patients, 153 were vaccinated while 145 were randomized to the control arm. Ten nonrecurrent (NR) and five recurrent (R) vaccinated patients were selected and matched for clinico-pathologic factors. HER2 AR was less in NR versus R at R0 (3659mfi ± 70 vs 4799mfi ± 170, p < 0.01) and R6 (3832mfi ± 82 vs 4832mfi ± 30, p < 0.01). ΔR6 (R6-R0), AR change post-PVS, was increased in NR compared to R patients (174mfi ± 36 vs 33mfi ± 70, p < 0.07). AR was greater in HER2 OE compared to nOE (R0: 4991mfi ± 169 vs 3563mfi ± 70, R6: 4721mfi ± 127 vs 3888mfi ± 84, p < 0.01). nOE exhibited larger ΔR6 HER2 AR (325mfi ± 36 vs -269.96mfi ± 69, p < 0.01). AR was greater in HR+ compared to HR- at R0 (4214mfi ± 91 vs 3336mfi ± 62, p < 0.01) and R6 (4448mfi ± 86 vs 3037mfi ± 54, p < 0.01) with HR+ patients exhibiting larger ΔR6 HER2 AR (233mfi ± 40 vs -299mfi ± 36, p < 0.01).

    Conclusions

    In a prospective Phase II trial of a CD4+ -eliciting HER2 peptide vaccine, AE37+GM-CSF, patients who recur have higher levels of pre-existing antibodies and lower levels of antibody induction. This suggests that induction, not amplification, of an immune response may be important. Significantly higher AR change post-vaccination in HER2 nOE and HR+ patients suggests benefit of vaccination in less aggressive disease.

    References

    Trial Registry at http://clinicaltrials.gov: Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Breast Cancer. Unique Identifying Number: NCT00524277