Study of Imatinib and Peginterferon α-2b in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Patients

Summary

Imatinib (IM) has dramatically improved survival of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). However, most patients become resistant to IM in less than two years. This clinical trial combines targeted therapy (IM) with immunotherapy (peginterferon α-2b). Hypothesis: Apoptosis/necrosis of imatinib-sensitive GIST releases GIST-specific antigens in vivo while Peginterferon α-2b fulfills the role of cytokine signal (danger signal), this combination can induce effective innate and adaptive anti-GIST immunity, which can eradicate imatinib-resistant clones and GIST stem cells via recognition of common antigens shared with imatinib-sensitive GIST, leading to improved response rate and remission duration.

Timeline

Start

2007-07

Primary completion

2009-07

Completion

2009-07

Publications

• Chen LL, Chen X, Choi H, Sang H, Chen LC, Zhang H, Gouw L, Andtbacka RH, Chan BK, Rodesch CK, Jimenez A, Cano P, Jones KA, Oyedeji CO, Martins T, Hill HR, Schumacher J, Willmore C, Scaife CL, Ward JH, Morton K, Randall RL, Lazar AJ, Patel S, Trent JC, Frazier ML, Lin P, Jensen P, Benjamin RS. Exploiting antitumor immunity to overcome relapse and improve remission duration. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2012 Jul;61(7):1113-24. doi: 10.1007/s00262-011-1185-1. Epub 2011 Dec 24.

Drugs

Indications