A clinical study of an immunotherapy in patients with head or neck cancers associated with the HPV16 virus
Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) rank as the sixth most common cancer globally, with approximately 575,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In recent years, there has been a rising incidence in younger patients who have limited exposure to traditional risk factors such as smoking and alcohol. This increase is closely associated with HPV infection, particularly HPV-16, which is strongly linked to oropharyngeal cancer. Treatment for HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is highly individualized, depending on the disease stage, patient comorbidities, and personal preferences. In this phase 1 study, patients with HPV-16-associated OPSCC are being treated with the immunotherapeutic delNS-vector expressing the HPV-16 oncogenes E6 and E7, administered both intratumorally and intramuscularly.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
12
Intratumoral administration for first dose followed by intramuscular administration for subsequent doses at recommended dose level and determined schedule.
Medical University Vienna
Vienna, Austria
RECRUITINGFrequency and severity of adverse events (AEs)
To assess the severity of the adverse event is assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE), version 5.0.
Time frame: 7 days
Intralesional T-cell infiltration
To assess the intralesional T-cell infiltration in tumour tissue available from surgery or biopsy by immunohistological staining.
Time frame: 24 weeks
Biodistribution
To evaluate the presence of FluBHPVE6E7 by quantification of FluBHPVE6E7 genome copies in nasal secretion samples by RT-qPCR (copies per ml blood).
Time frame: 24 weeks
Virus recovery in oropharyngeal secretion samples
To evaluate the presence of FluBHPVE6E7 by quantification of FluBHPVE6E7 genome copies in oropharyngeal secretion samples by RT-qPCR (copies per sample).
Time frame: 7 days
Virus recovery in saliva
To evaluate the presence of FluBHPVE6E7 by quantification of FluBHPVE6E7 genome copies in saliva samples by RT-qPCR (copies per sample).
Time frame: 7 days
Frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs)
To assess the severity of the adverse event according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE), version 5.0.
Time frame: 24 weeks
Disease-free survival (DFS)
To assess the length of time after treatment during which the patient remains free from any signs or symptoms of the disease.
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Time frame: 60 months
Overall survival (OS)
To assess the length of time from the start of treatment or diagnosis until the death of the patient from any cause.
Time frame: 60 months
Induction of HPV-specific T-cell response following FluBHPVE6E7 administration
To assess the induction of HPV16 E6- and E7-specific T-cells (%) by IFN-gamma ELISPOT analysis.
Time frame: 24 weeks
Hemagglutination Inhibition (HAI) Geometric Mean Titers (GMTs) following FluBHPVE6E7 administration
To assess the induction of systemic vector-specific antibodies by HAI assay.
Time frame: 24 weeks