BACKGROUND.
To evaluate the immunological responses of personalized peptide vaccination
combined with low-dose glucocorticoids for advanced hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) patients (pts).
METHODS.
Eleven pts with advanced HRPC were treated with the vaccination and low-dose glucocorticoids; 6 pts with 10 mg/day of prednisolone (PDL) followed by 1 mg/day of dexamethasone at the time of progression, 1 pt with PDL, and 4 pts with dexamethasone. Peptide-specific cellular and humoral responses were employed to monitor pre- and post- (6th) vaccination samples.
RESULTS.
The vaccination combined with glucocorticoids was well tolerated with no severe adverse effects. Increments of IgG responses were observed in 1 of 4 or 8 of 10 pts tested who receivedPDLor dexamethasone, respectively, increment of cytotoxicTlymphocyte activity was observed in 2 of 4 or 5 of 7 pts tested, respectively. Vaccination with PDL or dexamethasone resulted in a decline of PSA (at least 50%) in 1 of 7 or 6 of 10 pts with significantly longer median TTP in the dexamethasone group, respectively.
CONCLUSION.
Vaccination combined with dexamethasone could be recommended for further clinical trials from both immunological and clinical points of view.