Vaccine Therapy and GM-CSF in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, or Mesothelioma

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from peptides may help the body build an effective immune response
to kill cancer cells. Biological therapies, such as GM-CSF, may stimulate the immune system
in different ways and stop cancer cells from growing. Giving vaccine therapy together with
GM-CSF may kill more cancer cells.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects of vaccine therapy and GM-CSF in
treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, non-small cell
lung cancer, or mesothelioma.

Safety and immunogenicity [Designated as safety issue: Yes] [Time Frame: 2 years]

Immune response as measured by T-cell proliferative response, delayed-type hypersensitivity against WT-1 peptides, or ELISPOT [Designated as safety issue: No] [Time Frame: 2 years]

Antileukemic effects [Designated as safety issue: No] [Time Frame: 2 years]

Clinical and molecular response [Designated as safety issue: No] [Time Frame: 2 years]

Antitumor response as measured by CT scan based on RECIST criteria [Designated as safety issue: No] [Time Frame: 2 years]

Toxicity as measured by NCI CTC v. 3.0 [Designated as safety issue: Yes] [Time Frame: 2 years]

• Leukemia
• Lung Cancer
• Malignant Mesothelioma
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

• Biological: WT-1 analog peptide vaccine
• Biological: incomplete Freund's adjuvant
• Biological: sargramostim
• Genetic: polymerase chain reaction
• Other: flow cytometry
• Other: immunoenzyme technique

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

  -  Determine the safety and immunogenicity of the Wilms tumor-1 analog peptide vaccine in
     patients with acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, non-small cell lung
     cancer, or mesothelioma.

Secondary

  -  Determine the antitumor effects of this vaccine in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a pilot study. Patients are stratified according to disease type (acute
myeloid leukemia [AML] or myelodysplastic syndromes [MDS] vs non-small cell lung cancer or
mesothelioma).

Patients receive vaccine comprising Wilms-tumor 1 (WT-1) analog peptide emulsified in
Montanide ISA-51 subcutaneously (SC) once in weeks 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 and sargramostim
(GM-CSF) SC twice in weeks 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 (on the day of and 2 days prior to each
vaccination). Patients who have an immunologic response and have no disease progression may
receive up to 6 more vaccinations approximately 1 month apart.

Blood samples are collected at baseline, week 8, and week 14. Samples are examined by
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure levels of WT-1 and by T-cell proliferative
response, delayed-type hypersensitivity against WT-1 peptides, or ELISPOT to measure immune
response.

Bone marrow samples are collected from patients with AML or MDS at baseline and week 14.
Samples are examined by PCR to measure levels of WT-1 and by multiparameter flow cytometry
to measure residual disease.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

  -  Cytologically or histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:

       -  Acute myeloid leukemia, meeting the following criteria:

            -  Documented Wilms tumor-1 (WT-1)-positive disease demonstrated by WT-1
               protein on a pretreatment bone marrow biopsy OR detectable disease with
               real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction
               (RQ-PCR)

            -  Completed induction chemotherapy, achieved clinical remission, and
               completed postremission therapy OR achieved clinical remission and have no
               plans for further postremission chemotherapy (≥ 65 years of age)

       -  Myelodysplastic syndromes, meeting the following criteria:

            -  Documented WT-1-positive disease demonstrated by WT-1 protein on a
               pretreatment bone marrow biopsy OR detectable disease by RQ-PCR

            -  International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score of ≥ Int-2

            -  Not a candidate for cytotoxic chemotherapy

       -  Non-small cell lung cancer, meeting the following criteria:

            -  Positive tumor staining for WT-1 in > 10% of cells

            -  Stage III or IV disease

            -  Completed chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiotherapy

       -  Mesothelioma, meeting the following criteria:

            -  Positive tumor staining for WT-1 in > 10% of cells

            -  Unresectable or relapsed disease

            -  Chemo-naive or received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen

            -  Malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma

  -  No leptomeningeal disease

  -  No CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

  -  Karnofsky performance status 70-100%

  -  Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm³

  -  Platelet count > 50,000/mm³ (except for myelodysplastic syndromes where parameter is
     > 20,000/mm³ and not transfusion dependent)

  -  Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

  -  AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal

  -  Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

  -  Not pregnant or nursing

  -  Negative pregnancy test

  -  Fertile patients must use effective contraception

  -  No active infection requiring systemic antibiotics, antiviral, or antifungal
     treatments

  -  No serious unstable medical illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

  -  See Disease Characteristics

  -  At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy

  -  No concurrent systemic corticosteroids