View clinical trials related to Epstein-Barr Viraemia.
Filter by:This is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm Phase 1B/2 study to assess the safety and efficacy of tabelecleucel in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of subjects with platinum-pretreated, recurrent/metastatic Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (EBV+ NPC).
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of several herpesviruses that cause disease in humans. EBV virus has an oncogenic potential, and it has been associated with the development of a wide range of cancers. Previous studies have shown a close association between EBV and Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in transplant recipients. As part of a preventive approach against PTLD, several transplantation units now monitor the occurrence of EBV-DNAemia after transplantation. However, there is little evidence to guide this strategy; nor is there consensus concerning either the best specimen to use for EBV analysis (whole blood or plasma). In this study investigators aim to optimise and validate a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-test for EBV-DNA on, respectively, whole blood, plasma and a combination of plasma and lymphocytes. The investigators wish to determine which of the three tests best predicts current and future risk of development of EBV-related diseases such as mononucleosis and PTLD.
Scientific context Epstein-Barr virus has a causal role in the pathogenesis of multiple distinct lymphomas. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD) are the most frequent EBV-induced proliferations. PTLD after allogeneic stem cell transplantation has an incidence lower than 5% but may increase up to 10-20% in patients with established risk factors. EBV-DNAemia is predictive of EBV-PTLD and is routinely performed using qPCR on whole blood. Preemptive therapeutic strategies with anti-CD20 antibody are used when patients are above a defined EBV-DNAemia threshold. This approach remains limited since it does not discriminate between an EBV-induced lymphoproliferation (latent cycle) and/or a replicating virus (replicative cycle). Epigenetic modifications plays a central role in regulating the switch from latent to lytic gene expression. Specific DNA modifications can be regarded as molecular signatures for EBV genomes associated with the status of the viral infection (latent vs lytic). Accordingly, these signatures may be envisioned as a potent tool to characterize the state of the viral infection in vivo. Description of the project Our primary objective is to estimate the respective percentages of EBV-lytic and EBV-latent genomes (proliferating cells) in patients presenting with a high EBV-DNAemia after allogeneic stem cell transplantation HSCT by analysing the epigenetic modifications of EBV genome on specific sites. Our secondary objectives are i) to determine risk factors associated with each "latent versus lytic EBV" profiles and ii) to correlate the "latent versus lytic EBV" profiles with response to rituximab infusion and patient outcomes. For this purpose, a retrospective study (n=80) and a prospective study (estimation n=58) will be established. The different steps of this project are: 1. To study epigenetic modifications. The laboratory is developing a new approach to distinguish between latent and lytic genomes. 2. To realize quantitative analysis by RT-PCR of different EBV transcripts specific of the latent or of the lytic phase of the virus This method will be applied on RNA extracted from patient blood samples with elevated EBV viral load, under condition preserving RNA integrity. The results will be validated on a prospective cohort of HSCT patients (n=58) (Saint-Antoine Hospital and La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital). 3. To perform quantitative analysis of EBV genomes in plasma, saliva and total blood samples by current routine procedures In addition to total blood samples, plasma and saliva will be collected since free viral particles are known to accumulate in these biological fluids upon EBV reactivation. These samples will be treated by normalized procedures that are routinely used in the medical virology laboratory to quantify EBV in human samples. Expected results By establishing a simple method for studying epigenetic modifications of EBV genomes, we expect to understand the significance of high EBV viral load and the pathophysiology of post-HSCT PTLD. We aim to distinguish between the latent / lytic profiles of HSCT patients and to correlate their respective risks for developing PTLD. Establishing the epigenetic EBV profile in the post-HSCT setting when facing increase viral load and PTLD will improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms determining EBV-status in post-HSCT. This should improve major medical and economical issues. These results could have a major therapeutic