Johns Hopkins cancer researchers report the successful use of human gene therapy to activate the human immune system against metastatic prostate cancer. The achievement, believed to be a first, could have implications in the treatment of many kinds of cancer. The study results are published in the Oct. 15 issue of Cancer Research.

The Hopkins team injected a genetically engineered cancer vaccine in 11 prostate cancer patients whose cancer continued to spread following total surgical removal of their prostate glands. "We were astounded to find that every part of the immune system was alerted and turned on," says Jonathan Simons (pictured at right), associate professor of oncology and urology and principal investigator of this study, funded by the CaP Cure Foundation, the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Initiative.

"Using gene therapy, we re-educated the immune system to recognize prostate cancer cells as a potential infection and attack," he says. To create the vaccine, the researchers used cancer cells removed from the patient's own prostate tumor during surgery and grew them in the laboratory. GM-CSF, the most potent gene known to activate the immune system to recognize tumor antigens, was inserted into the cancer vaccine cells. The GM-CSF gene transfer into the cells was accomplished via a retrovirus, itself genetically engineered to be safe in humans. The GM-CSF gene-engineered prostate cancer vaccine was then irradiated to prevent the cancer cells from growing and injected into the patient's thigh like a flu shot.

Within four weeks of vaccination, the researchers were able to detect circulation of immune cells throughout the bloodstream. Patients' B-cells produced antibodies against prostate cells, and their T-cells directly attacked the tumor, the researchers report. Once re-educated to see prostate cells as foreign bodies, antigens on the cells' surface serve as red flags to the immune system, causing it to seek out and destroy them.

"The gene we used to turn on the immune system is so good that it activates everything," says William G. Nelson, assistant professor of oncology-medical oncology. "We were not surprised to see T-cell activation, the arm of the immune system triggered by viruses, but this vaccine also stimulated new high-level antibody production. Such a complete and thorough activation of the immune system against prostate cancer has never before been seen," he says.

All prostate cells are targets for this type of gene therapy because any prostate cell that survives surgery has the potential to turn malignant and become lethal to the patient. However, since the prostate is not a vital organ, the researchers say destruction of the prostate cells is safe and should not lead to incontinence or impotence as other therapies sometimes can. In fact, the therapy is so well tolerated by patients that no hospitalization is required. The only side effects associated with this therapy are flu-like symptoms and redness and itchiness at the vaccine site for several days.

"The idea of using the immune system against prostate cancer is quite novel but offers real hope because many of our conventional treatments do not kill metastatic cells efficiently," Simons says. "Genetically engineered vaccines like this could make a real difference when used as adjuvant therapy to 'mop up' microscopic cancer cells left behind following surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy," he continues.

"The ability to activate the immune system to produce antibodies against cancer provides critical new fundamental information that will broaden the potential of these gene therapy trials," Simons notes. Based on the research reported in Cancer Research, Simons, Nelson and team currently are conducting larger trials using a genetically engineered prostate cancer vaccine that does not require surgery.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy, striking more than 330,000 men in the United States each year. New therapies are urgently needed for the approximately 40,000 men who die each year because their cancer has spread beyond the prostate to the bone marrow and other vital tissues and organs.

In addition to Simons and Nelson, other participants in this study included Bahar Mikhak, Ju-Fay Chang, Angelo M. DeMarzo, Michael A. Carducci, Michael Lim, Christine E. Weber, Angelo A. Baccala, Marti A. Goemann, Shirley M. Clift, Dale G. Ando, Hyam J. Levitsky, Lawrence K. Cohen, Martin G. Sanda, Richard C. Mulligan, Alan W. Partin, H. Ballentine Carter, Steven Piantadosi and Fray F. Marshall.

Advanced prostate cancer patients can obtain information about the team's current trials by calling 410-614-4234.