Phase 1 Trial of Interleukin 12 Gene Therapy for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

This protocol proposes a phase 1 trial combining oncolytic adenovirus-mediated cytotoxic and IL-12 gene therapy with chemotherapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Nine subjects (3 cohorts, 3 subjects/cohort) with metastatic pancreatic cancer will receive a single intratumoral injection of the oncolytic Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-hIL12 adenovirus at one of three dose levels (cohort 1- 1 x 1011 vp, cohort 2- 3 x 1011 vp, cohort 3- 1 x 1012 vp). Depending on the location of the target lesion, the adenovirus will be injected either through the stomach or duodenal wall using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance. Two days later, subjects will be administered (orally) 7 days of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) prodrug therapy. Fourteen days after completion of the 5-FC prodrug therapy course, subjects will be administered chemotherapy at the discretion of the treating physician. On an optional basis, subjects will be administered \[18F\]-FHBG, a HSV-1 TK substrate, and will undergo PET imaging to quantify the intensity, persistence, and biodistribution of HSV-1 TK gene expression in the pancreas. The primary endpoint is toxicity at day 21. A secondary endpoint is rates of ≥ grade 3 CTCAE adverse events. Exploratory endpoints include 1) intensity, persistence, and biodistribution of HSV-1 TK gene expression, and 2) association of immunological measurements (i.e., cytokine levels, NK cytolytic activity) with toxicity and clinical outcome.