Surgery and Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Early Cervical Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven untreated stage Ib or IIa cervical carcinoma, squamous or adenocarcinoma suitable for surgical excision

  • No CNS metastases
• Circulating CD4+ lymphocyte count at least 400
• Proven absence of hepatitis B and C antibodies
• Previous exposure to vaccinia from smallpox vaccination, as well as no previous exposure, is allowed
• Reaction to 2 or more antigens on Pasteur Merieux CMI test required
• Ability to collaborate planned follow-up required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 19 and over

Performance status:

• WHO/ECOG no greater than 2

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC greater than 3,000 (3,000 x 10 to the ninth/L)
• Platelet count greater than 120,000 (120 x 10 to the ninth/L)
• No bleeding disorder

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
• AST and ALT less than 1.5 times normal
• Prothrombin or partial thromboplastin time no greater than 2 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.3 mg/dL (120 micromoles/L)

Other:

• No ongoing infection
• No HIV antibody
• No serious medical or psychiatric illness
• No second malignancy within 5 years except for curatively treated basal cell skin cancer which required surgery, hormone therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Adequate contraception required

• Patient or her household contacts must not have any of the following:

  • Chronic steroid therapy
  • Renal or other allograft
  • Known immunodeficiency
  • Eczema
  • Children under 5 years old

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• Not specified