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Murcidencel

Murcidencel, also known as an autologous dendritic cell vaccine producing interleukin-12, is being studied in clinical trials for children, adolescents, and young adults with progressive, recurrent, or primarily metastatic high-risk tumors. This innovative therapy aims to harness the power of the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. The ongoing research focuses on assessing the safety and efficacy of this treatment in combination with other therapies for patients who have not responded well to standard treatments.

Table of Contents

What is MURCIDENCEL?

MURCIDENCEL is an innovative medical treatment being studied for children, teenagers, and young adults with certain types of difficult-to-treat cancers. It’s also known by other names such as Canpuldencel-T, DCVax-L, or “autologous dendritic cells pulsed with autologous tumour cell lysate”[1]. This treatment is classified as a type of cell therapy, which means it uses cells from the patient’s own body to fight cancer.

How Does MURCIDENCEL Work?

MURCIDENCEL is made from special cells called dendritic cells that are taken from the patient’s own body. These cells are a crucial part of our immune system. In the laboratory, scientists modify these dendritic cells to produce a substance called interleukin-12, which helps stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. The modified cells are then given back to the patient as an injection under the skin (intradermal use)[1].

This treatment is designed to help the patient’s own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. It’s a form of immunotherapy, which is a cutting-edge approach to treating cancer.

Who Might Benefit from MURCIDENCEL?

MURCIDENCEL is being studied for young patients with high-risk pediatric malignancies that are:

  • Progressive (continuing to grow despite treatment)
  • Recurrent (have come back after initial treatment)
  • Primarily metastatic (have spread to other parts of the body at the time of diagnosis)[1]

These are typically cancers that have not responded well to standard treatments and have a poor outlook with current therapies. Specifically, the study is looking at cancers where the expected 5-year survival rate is less than 25% with standard treatments[1].

Current Clinical Trial

MURCIDENCEL is currently being tested in a clinical trial. This trial is combining MURCIDENCEL with other cancer treatments to see if it can improve outcomes for patients with these difficult-to-treat cancers[1].

The main goal of this trial is to assess how safe MURCIDENCEL is when used in combination with other treatments. Researchers will be closely monitoring for any side effects, especially those that are considered “adverse events of special interest”[1].

Eligibility for the Trial

To participate in this trial, patients must meet certain criteria. Some key points include:

  • Having a confirmed diagnosis of a high-risk tumor that hasn’t responded to standard treatments
  • Being in relatively good overall health (able to perform daily activities)
  • Having adequate function of bone marrow, kidneys, liver, and heart
  • Not having certain other health conditions like uncontrolled autoimmune diseases or psychiatric diagnoses[1]

It’s important to note that there are additional specific medical criteria that doctors will use to determine if a patient is eligible for the trial.

Safety and Effectiveness Measures

During the trial, researchers will be looking at several factors to determine how well MURCIDENCEL works and how safe it is. These include:

  1. How often certain side effects occur
  2. How long it takes for the cancer to progress
  3. How long patients survive overall
  4. How many patients see their tumors shrink or disappear
  5. How many patients experience any benefit from the treatment[1]

These measures will help doctors understand if MURCIDENCEL is safe and effective for treating these challenging cancers in young patients.

Aspect Details
Drug Name Murcidencel (Autologous dendritic cell vaccine producing interleukin-12)
Trial Category Category 2 (Integrated Phase I and Phase II)
Target Population Children, adolescents, and young adults with progressive, recurrent, or primarily metastatic high-risk tumors
Primary Objective Assessment of safety through monitoring of Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI)
Secondary Objectives Time to progression, overall survival, objective response rate, clinical benefit rate
Administration Intradermal injection
Key Inclusion Criteria Confirmed diagnosis of refractory or relapsing high-risk tumor, adequate organ function, performance status ≥ 50 (Karnofsky/Lansky)
Key Exclusion Criteria Untreated autoimmune disease, previous treatment with autologous dendritic cell vaccine, uncontrolled hypertension, pregnancy

FAQ

  • What is Murcidencel? Murcidencel is an autologous dendritic cell vaccine that produces interleukin-12. It's made from a patient's own cells and is designed to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer cells in high-risk pediatric tumors.
  • Who is eligible for the Murcidencel clinical trial? The trial is for children, adolescents, and young adults with progressive, recurrent, or primarily metastatic high-risk tumors who have not responded well to standard treatments. Patients must meet specific criteria, including adequate organ function and performance status.
  • How is Murcidencel administered? Murcidencel is administered as a suspension for injection, given intradermally (into the skin). The treatment is part of a combined antitumor therapy approach.
  • What are the main objectives of the Murcidencel clinical trial? The primary objective is to assess the safety of Murcidencel when used in combination therapy. Secondary objectives include evaluating time to progression, overall survival, and objective response rate.
  • Are there any specific exclusion criteria for the trial? Yes, patients with untreated autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled hypertension, pregnancy, certain infections (HIV, hepatitis B or C), or known hypersensitivity to the investigational product are excluded from the trial.

Ongoing Clinical Trials on Murcidencel

  • Study on Murcidencel for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with High-Risk Progressive or Recurrent Metastatic Tumors

    Not recruiting

    1 1 1
    Investigated diseases:
    Investigated drugs:
    Czechia

Glossary

  • Autologous: Using cells or tissues obtained from the same individual. In this case, the dendritic cells used to make the vaccine come from the patient's own body.
  • Dendritic cells: Immune cells that help the body recognize and fight foreign substances, including cancer cells.
  • Interleukin-12: A protein that helps regulate the immune system and can enhance the body's ability to fight cancer.
  • Metastatic: Cancer that has spread from its original site to other parts of the body.
  • High-risk tumor: A tumor with an anticipated 5-year survival rate of less than 25% using standard treatment methods.
  • AESI (Adverse Events of Special Interest): Specific medical events that are being closely monitored during the clinical trial for safety reasons.
  • Objective response rate: The proportion of patients whose cancer shrinks or disappears after treatment.
  • Clinical benefit rate (CBR): The percentage of patients who have a complete response, partial response, or stable disease from treatment.
  • Karnofsky/Lansky score: Scales used to measure a patient's general well-being and ability to perform daily activities.
  • ECOG categories: A scale used to assess how a patient's disease is progressing and how it affects daily living abilities.

References

  1. http://clinicaltrials.eu/trial/study-on-murcidencel-for-children-adolescents-and-young-adults-with-high-risk-progressive-or-recurrent-metastatic-tumors/