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Clinical Trial Summary

This phase II trial tests how well pB1-11 and human papillomavirus tumor antigen (TA-HPV) vaccines in combination with pembrolizumab work in treating patients with oropharyngeal cancer that has come back (recurrent) or that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) and that is PD-L1 and human papillomavirus (HPV) positive. Oropharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer involving structures in the back of the throat (the oropharynx), such as the non-bony back roof of the mouth (soft palate), sides and back wall of the throat, tonsils, and back third of the tongue. Scientists have found that some strains or types of a virus called HPV can cause oropharyngeal cancer. pBI-11 is a circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (plasmid) vaccine that promotes antibody, cytotoxic T cell, and protective immune responses. TA-HPV is an investigational recombinant vaccina virus derived from a strain of the vaccina virus which was widely used for smallpox vaccination. Vaccination with this TA-HPV vaccine may stimulate the immune system to mount a cytotoxic T cell response against tumor cells positive for HPV, resulting in decreased tumor growth. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread by inhibiting the PD-1 receptor. These investigational vaccines could cause or enhance an immune response in the body against HPV, during which time the activity of pembrolizumab against oropharyngeal cancer associated with HPV may be strengthened. These drugs in combination may be more effective in increasing the ability of the immune system to fight oropharyngeal cancer than pembrolizumab alone.


Clinical Trial Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To assess the safety and feasibility of intramuscular PVX7 (pBI-11/pBI-11/human papillomavirus tumor antigen vaccine [TA-HPV]) immunization in patients with HPV+ recurrent/metastatic (R/M) oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) undergoing treatment with pembrolizumab. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: I. To assess the response rate (RR) of the addition of pBI-11 and TA-HPV to pembrolizumab (P) as first line therapy for patients with PD-L1+ (combined positive score [CPS] >= 1), HPV+, R/M OPC. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and safety of the combination of PVX7 and pembrolizumab in this population. II. To evaluate correlates of clinical activity by: (1) comparing HPV16/18 E6/E7-specific cellular and humoral immunity in pre- versus (vs.) post-pBI-11 and TA HPV-treated OPC patients that are pembrolizumab responders (R) and/or non-responders (NR). OUTLINE: Patients receive pBI-11 vaccine intramuscularly (IM), TA-HPV vaccine IM, and pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) on study. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood sample collection during screening and on study. Patients may undergo tumor biopsy during screening and on study. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT05799144
Study type Interventional
Source Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Contact Vanderbilt-Ingram Services for Timely Access
Phone 800-811-8480
Email cip@vumc.org
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Start date May 16, 2023
Completion date September 30, 2028

See also
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