Background: Recent research has shown that causing an immune response to tumor cells may help slow or stop the growth of tumors. One treatment that has come from this research involves collecting and modifying a cancer patient’s tumor cells in the laboratory, then returning the cells to the patient as a vaccine to encourage the immune system to respond to them. Researchers are interested in testing tumor cell vaccines with an experimental drug called ISCOMATRIX™, which can be added to a vaccine in order to elicit a stronger immune response in the body. ISCOMATRIX™ has not been approved for sale and use in any country and its use is still experimental, though it has been tested and used safely in other clinical studies. Researchers are also interested in determining whether the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib will improve the body’s immune reaction if given with the vaccine.
Objectives: To assess the safety and effectiveness of tumor cell vaccines given with ISCOMATRIX™ and celecoxib in the treatment of lung and esophagus cancers.
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