Dendritic cell-based autologous tumor vaccines for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background An autologous vaccine of apoptotic tumor cells (ATCs) and dendritic cells (DCs) was administered to patients with stage III/IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to study safety and feasibility. Methods Autologous DCs were generated from monocytes, loaded with ATCs, and delivered intranodally. Delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) and immunological endpoints were measured prevaccination and postvaccination. Clinical follow‐up was required. Results Tumors obtained from 30 patients yielded 2 × 106 to 2 × 108 tumor cells. Only 19 of 30 (63%) were sterile. Ten of 30 patients (33%) had ≥1 × 107 sterile tumor cells required for vaccine production. Eight of 10 patients had positive recall DTH. Five of 10 patients were leukapheresed to generate DCs. Four of 5 patients were vaccinated. ATC‐reactive T cells were detected in 3 of 4 patients. All 4 patients survived >5 years. The trial failed to enroll the projected 12 patients and was terminated. Conclusion This vaccine was safe and immunogenic but feasible only in patients with HNSCC with positive prevaccine DTH and ≥1 × 107 sterile tumor cells. All vaccinated patients were long‐term disease‐free survivors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E494–E501, 2016