A Phase I Clinical Trial of an HPV Therapeutic Vaccine

University of Arkansas

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Human Papillomavirus

Treatments: Biological: Vaccine consisting of four HPV-16 E6 peptides in combination with Candin®

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01653249

R01CA143130 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

130662

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will consist of 300 women aged 18-50 years. The study will show that a new therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine designed to regress a precancerous condition called high-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (HSIL)is safe. HPV is known to cause cervical, vaginal, oral, and anal cancers. This novel vaccine will consist of a synthetically made fragment of HPV protein called E6 and yeast extract called Candin®. Previous studies have revealed that immune response to E6 is important in fighting HPV. We also know that injecting Candin has anti-HPV effect since it has been used to treat common warts which are caused by different types of HPV. The current standard treatment for HSIL is loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP). The immune system is the part of the body that fights infection and cancer. This research study will also examine the immune response to the vaccine and its effectiveness in regressing HSIL. Volunteers would be eligible to enroll in the study if they have had a recent Papanicolaou (Pap) smear result indicating HSIL or "Cannot rule out HSIL", and if they meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Subjects will be eligible to receive vaccinations if biopsy confirms HSIL. A series of four vaccinations will be given roughly 3 weeks apart, and LEEP will be performed at the end of the study approximately 12 weeks after the last vaccination.

Enrollment: 52 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18-50 years
• Had recent Pap smear result consistent with HSIL or "cannot rule out HSIL" or HSIL on biopsy
• Untreated for HSIL or "Cannot rule out HSIL"
• Able to provide informed consent
• Certain physical exam and blood component parameters within acceptable ranges
• Willingness and able to comply with the requirements of the protocol with a good command of the English language

Exclusion criteria

• History of disease or treatment causing immunosuppression (e.g., cancer, HIV, organ transplant, autoimmune disease)
• Being pregnant or attempting to be pregnant within the period of enrollment
• Breast feeding or planning to breast feed within the period of enrollment
• Allergy to Candida antigen
• History of severe asthma requiring emergency room visit or hospitalization
• Current use of beta-blocker medication (may not respond to epinephrine in case of anaphylaxis)
• If in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or other Investigators, it is not in the best interest of the patient to enter this study

Trial design

52 participants in 1 patient group

vaccination

Experimental group

Description:

an escalating dose study of a vaccine consisting of four HPV-16 E6 peptides in combination with Candin® to determine the clinically optimum dose (COD), immunologically optimal dose (IOD), and maximum tolerated dose (MTD). An additional 30 subjects will be vaccinated at the final dose (apparent COD) for further assessment of clinical response.

Treatment:

Biological: Vaccine consisting of four HPV-16 E6 peptides in combination with Candin®