A Phase II Trial of Active Specific Immunotherapy in Patients With Recurrent Soft Tissue Sarcoma Using Autologous Tumor-derived Heat Shock Protein-Peptide Complex (HSPPC-96)

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent soft tissue sarcoma
Incompletely or completely resected metastatic or locally recurrent disease (surgery must
be performed with intent of complete resection) No active brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life
expectancy: At least 16 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil
count at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 80,000/mm3 Hepatic: Not specified Renal:
Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class
III or IV heart disease Other: No active infections requiring antibiotics within 2 weeks
of study No other serious medical illness requiring hospitalization No history of primary
or secondary immunodeficiency or autoimmune disease No contraindications to MRI (e.g.,
aneurysm clips or cardiac pacemakers) Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 6 weeks since prior immunotherapy and
recovered Chemotherapy: At least 6 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine
therapy: No concurrent systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy: At least 6 weeks since prior
radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: See Disease Characteristics No prior splenectomy
Other: At least 6 weeks since other prior experimental anticancer therapy and recovered No
concurrent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other immunosuppressive drugs No other
concurrent participation in a clinical trial