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NCI Drug Dictionary


GVAX lung cancer vaccine 
An autologous lung cancer vaccine consisting of patient-specific lung cancer cells genetically modified to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), an immunostimulatory cytokine. GM-CSF modulates the proliferation and differentiation of a variety of hematopoietic progenitor cells with some specificity towards stimulation of leukocyte production and may reverse treatment-induced neutropenias. This agent also promotes antigen presentation, up-regulates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and increases interleukin-2-mediated lymphokine-activated killer cell function and may augment host antitumoral immunity. For safety, cells are irradiated prior to vaccination. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
Synonyms:CG8123 vaccine
GVAX Autologous Lung Cancer Vaccine
Abbreviation:CG8123V
Code name:CG8123