Vaccination With Dendritic Cells Loaded With Brain Tumor Stem Cells for Progressive Malignant Brain Tumor

Autologous DCs will be obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from each patient by leukapheresis. An established BTSC line will be used as an allogeneic source of tumor antigen. Approximately 4 weeks will be required after the leukapheresis for vaccine production and the first vaccine administration. Each patient will receive an injection of DCs at his/her assigned dose once every 2 weeks during the first 8 weeks, followed by injections every 4 weeks for an additional 10 vaccinations. Imiquimod will be applied to the vaccination site just prior to and 24 hours after each vaccine administration. This study will use an accelerated dose escalation design (1 subject per level) until dose limiting toxicity (DLT) is encountered, after which a traditional phase I design (3 subjects per level) will be implemented. DLT is defined as grade 3 or greater treatment related toxicity. A total of 6 patients will be treated at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or, in the absence of DLT, at dose level 3.