Study of the Telomerase Vaccine GV1001 to Treat Patients With Inoperable Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients may be entered in the study only if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. Male or female patient ≥ 18 years of age;
2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed inoperable NSCLC stage III disease;
3. Patient must have received chemo-radiotherapy with a curative intent with the following definition: any planned regimen consisting of a platinum-doublet containing chemotherapy given concomitantly with up to 66Gy of radiation therapy. Gemcitabine cannot be part of the platinum-based doublet;
4. Life expectancy of ≥ 3 months;
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) ≤ 2;
6. Patients must have adequate bone marrow function as evidenced by absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.0 X 109/L, hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL (a hemoglobin \< 9.0 g/dL at Screening is acceptable if it is corrected to ≥ 9 g/dL by growth factor or transfusion prior to first dose), and platelet count ≥ 75 X 109/L (platelet counts below 75 X 109/L may be re-screened within 4 weeks of chemoradiotherapy);
7. Patients must have adequate liver function as evidenced by bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of the normal range (ULN), and alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3 X ULN;
8. Female patients of childbearing potential (i.e. ovulating, premenopausal, not surgically sterile), and all male patients are required to be sexually abstinent or use a medically accepted contraceptive regimen during their participation in the study and for 90 days after study completion. Medically accepted contraceptive methods are defined as those with 90% or greater efficacy;
9. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test;
10. Females may not be breastfeeding; and
11. Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients will not be entered in the study for any of the following reasons:

1. Prior treatment with gemcitabine, prior targeted therapy (including erlotinib \[Tarceva®\], or gefitinib \[Iressa®\]), or immunological therapy including tumor vaccine therapy intended for the management of NSCLC;
2. A minimum of 1 week and a maximum of 4 weeks must have elapsed from the chemo-radiotherapy and patient must have recovered from all treatment-related toxicities to Grade ≤ 1 (CTCAE version 4.03), except for alopecia;
3. History of other malignancies except: (1) adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; (2) curatively treated, a) in situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix, b) prostate cancer, or c) superficial bladder cancer; or (3) other curatively treated solid tumor with no evidence of disease for ≥ 3 years;
4. Received treatment in another clinical study within the 30 days prior to commencing study treatment or patients who have not recovered from side effects of an investigational drug to Grade ≤ 1 (CTCAE version 4.03), except for alopecia;
5. Are currently receiving any other cancer treatment, even if given with palliative intent;
6. Uncontrolled pleural effusions, ascites, or other third space fluid collections;
7. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus Type 1 or 2;
8. Significant cardiovascular impairment (history of congestive heart failure \> New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II, unstable angina or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, or serious cardiac arrhythmia);
9. Patients with organ allografts requiring immunosuppression;
10. Need for systemic steroid treatment unless chronic daily dose used is ≤ 5mg prednisone or equivalent. Note: Higher dose systemic steroid treatment (≥ 60mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) administered for ≤ 2 weeks in any single episode is permissible if administered for an acute inflammatory condition;
11. Known severe adverse reactions to vaccines;
12. Known severe adverse events or allergy to GM-CSF;
13. Known positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), known hepatitis B surface antigen, or hepatitis C positive; and
14. Have any medical condition that would interfere with the conduct of the study.