Composition comprising tumor cells and extracts and method using thereof

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions containing hapten-modified tumor cells and extracts and methods of treating cancer by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition containing a tumor cell or tumor cell extract to a subject in need of such treatment. The tumor cells and extracts of the invention and compositions thereof are capable of eliciting T lymphocytes that have a property of infiltrating a mammalian tumor, eliciting an inflammatory immune response to a mammalian tumor, eliciting a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to a mammalian tumor and/or stimulating T lymphocytes in vitro. The invention also relates to an effective vaccination schedule useful for inducing an antitumor response in a mammalian patient suffering from cancer by inducing at least one of the following: tumor necrosis, tumor regression, tumor inflammation, tumor infiltration by activated T lymphocytes, delayed-type hypersensitivity response, and prolongation of patient survival.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for inducing an anti-tumor response in a mammalian patient suffering from a tumor, which method comprises administering to the patient a composition comprising an adjuvant and a tumor cell or tumor cell extract, wherein the tumor cell or tumor cell extract is: 
 (i) conjugated to a hapten;    (ii) of the same tumor type as the patient's tumor;    (iii) not allogeneic to said patient, and    (iv) incapable of growing in the body of the patient after injection;    wherein a therapeutically effective amount of cyclophosphamide is administered only prior to the first administration of the composition, wherein the patient is not sensitized to the hapten prior to administration of the composition, and wherein the composition elicits an anti-tumor response.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , which comprises repeating said administration of said composition every week or every two weeks.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is administered at least three times.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said therapeutically effective amount of cyclophosphamide comprises about 300 mg/M 2  of cyclophosphamide, and is administered 3 days prior to administration of the composition.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammalian patient is a human, said tumor cell or extract is a melanoma tumor cell or extract, said hapten is dinitrophenyl, and said adjuvant is Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.