Vaccine Therapy, Cyclophosphamide, and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Summary

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from gene-modified tumor cells may help the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Cetuximab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving vaccine therapy together with cyclophosphamide and cetuximab may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well vaccine therapy works when given together with cyclophosphamide and cetuximab in treating patients with metastatic or locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Timeline

Start

2005-12

Primary completion

2009-03

Completion

2009-03

Drugs

Indications