A Phase II Study Evaluating the Interest to Combine UCPVax a CD4 TH1-inducer Cancer Vaccine and Atezolizumab for the Treatment of Human PapillomaVirus Positive Cancers
A Phase II Study Evaluating the Interest to Combine UCPVax a CD4 TH1-inducer Cancer Vaccine and Atezolizumab for the Treatment of Human PapillomaVirus Positive Cancers
70% all cases of cervical cancer, 95% of anal cancers and about 70% of oropharyngeal cancers are linked to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV oncogenic proteins are trans-activators of telomerase. Indeed, E6 oncoprotein transactivates the human telomerase (hTert). Our group has conducted a clinical trial (NCT02402842) in advanced squamous cell anal cancer (SCCA) and investigators have shown a correlation between the presence of anti-HPV immunity and anti-telomerase T helpher 1 (TH1) CD4 T cell responses, establishing telomerase as an appropriate antigen in HPV-related cancers.
Tumor-reactive CD4+ T cells have been found to ensure efficient effector Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) recruitment at the tumor site. Promoting tumor specific TH1 CD4 activation might be an attractive therapeutic option to enhance anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (Programmed cell Death-1/Programmed cell Death-Ligand1) efficacy. However, no option is currently available to expand tumor specific TH1 lymphocytes in most patients. Then, investigators have identified four novel MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) class II-restricted peptides derived from human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) referred as "Universal Cancer Peptides" (UCP). UCPVax is a therapeutic cancer vaccine developed by our team and composed of two separate peptides called UCP2 and UCP4 derived from telomerase. This UCPVax vaccine is currently evaluated in a multicenter phase I/II study in Non Small Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (NCT2818426) and seems to show to be safe and immunogenic.
PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint is a relevant candidate target for immunotherapy in HPV+ cancers, based on the prominent role of PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 in HPV-driven immune-evasion. There is a strong rational of using PD-1 therapy in HPV+ cancers, however anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment induces a limited number of long term responses in HPV disease. Combining anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy with an antitumor vaccine gains serious consideration in HPV+ cancers. Indeed, anti-cancer vaccines can induce tumor-specific T cells expansion and activation and therefore restore the cancer-immunity cycle in patients lacking pre-existing anti-tumor responses.
So investigators propose to determine the clinical interest and immunological efficacy of a treatment combining the CD4 helper T-inducer cancer vaccine (UCPVax) with atezolizumab in patients with HPV+ cancers by evaluation of the objective response rate at 4 months according to iRecist criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
Signed informed consent
Histologically confirmed HPV+ cancers, defined by p16+ (IHC) or HPV genotyping, corresponding to one of the following selected squamous cell carcinoma types:
Locally advanced or metastatic disease
Pre-treated with at least 1 line of anticancer standard treatment (chemotherapy, radiochemotherapy or targeted therapy…)
Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 75 years old
Measurable disease defined according to iRECIST v1.1 guidelines (Note: Previously irradiated lesions can be considered as measurable disease only if disease progression has been unequivocally documented at that site since radiation.)
Patients must have a mandatory treatment-free interval of at least 21 days following previous systemic anti-cancer treatments
Patients who have received previous systemic anticancer treatment and/or radiotherapy should have recovered from any treatment related toxicity, to a level of ≤ grade 1 (according to National Cancer Institute [NCI] common terminology criteria for adverse events, version 5 (CTCAE v5) with the exception of Grade 2 alopecia
Performance status < 2 (Annex 3)
Availability of a pre-treatment tumor sample (archival FFPE [formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded] block) and presence of a tumor lesion suitable for a biopsy
Patient affiliated to or beneficiary of French social security system
Ability to comply with the study protocol, in the Investigator's judgment.
Exclusion Criteria:
Non-eligible to a clinical trial:
Patients previously exposed to anti-tumor immunotherapy as anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA4 agent or any immune therapy. (HPV vaccination is allowed)
Diagnosis of additional malignancy within 3 years prior to the inclusion with the exception of curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin and/or curatively resected in situ cervical or breast cancer
Patient with any medical or psychiatric condition or disease, which would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study
Current participation in a study of an investigational agent or in the period of exclusion
Pregnancy, breast-feeding or absence/refusal of adequate contraception for fertile patients during the period of treatment and for 6 months from the last treatment administration
Patient under guardianship, curatorship or under the protection of justice
Cancer-specific exclusion criteria:
Uncontrolled pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, ascites or symptomatic fistula
Uncontrolled tumor-related pain: exposing patients to risk of exposure to corticoids or iterative hospitalizations. Symptomatic lesions amenable to palliative radiotherapy should be treated prior to randomization. Patients should be recovered from the effects of radiation. There is no required minimum recovery period
Known active central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subject with previously treated brain metastases and with radiological and clinical stability are allowed
Non-eligible to treatment:
Inadequate organ functions: known cardiac failure of unstable coronaropathy, respiratory failure, or uncontrolled infection or another life-risk condition
Active or chronic hepatitis B or C and/or HIV positive (HIV 1/2 antibodies patients), or a known history of active Tuberculosis bacillus
Any immunosuppressive therapy (i.e. corticosteroids >10mg of hydrocortisone or equivalent dose) within 14 days before the planned start of study therapy
Active autoimmune disease that has required a systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e. corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g. thyroxine, insulin) is allowed
Active or history of autoimmune disease or immune deficiency, including, but not limited to, myasthenia gravis, myositis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Wegener granulomatosis, Sjögren syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or multiple sclerosis, (see Annex 5 for a more comprehensive list of autoimmune diseases and immune deficiencies) with the following exceptions:
Patients with a history of autoimmune-related hypothyroidism who are on thyroid replacement hormone are eligible for the study,
Patients with controlled Type 1 diabetes mellitus who are on an insulin regimen are eligible for the study,
Patients with eczema, psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, or vitiligo with dermatologic manifestations only (e.g., patients with psoriatic arthritis are excluded) are eligible for the study provided all of following conditions are met:
Prior allogeneic bone marrow transplantation or prior solid organ transplantation
History of severe allergic, anaphylactic, or other hypersensitivity reactions to chimeric or humanized antibodies or fusion proteins
Known hypersensitivity or allergy to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or any component of atezolizumab formulation
History of idiopathic or secondary pulmonary fibrosis (History of radiation pneumonitis in the radiation field fibrosis is permitted), or evidence of active pneumonitis requiring a systemic treatment with 28 days before the planned start of study therapy
Major surgical procedure other than for diagnosis within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipation of need for a major surgical procedure during the course of the study
Severe infection within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, including, but not limited to, hospitalization for complications of infection, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia
Treatment with therapeutic oral or IV antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment. Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., to prevent a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation) are eligible for the study
Patients under chronic treatment with systemic corticoids or other immunosuppressive drugs (prednisone or prednisolone ≤ 10 mg/day is allowed) for a period of at least 4 weeks and whose treatment was not stopped 1 week prior to the start of the study treatment
Patient with intra-alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary fibrosis, or uncontrolled asthma, or chronic obstructive disease (COPD), defined as at least 1 hospitalization within 4 months prior to enrollment or as at least 3 exacerbations during the last year prior to enrollment
Patients requiring oxygen therapy
Patients with LEVF (Left Ejection Ventricular Fraction) <40%
Hospitalization for cardiovascular or pulmonary disease within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
Receipt of a live, attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to randomization or anticipation that such a live, attenuated vaccine will be required during the study Note: Patients must agree not to receive live, attenuated influenza vaccine (e.g.,FluMist®) within 28 days prior to randomisation, during treatment or within 5 months following the last dose of atezolizumab
Inadequate hematology function: Lymphocyte count at baseline < 800/mm3 ; neutrophil count <1500/mm3, platelets <100000/mm3, Hemoglobin<9g/dL
Inadequate hepatic function: bilirubin 2.5 fold ULN (upper limit of normal), AST/ALT (ASpartate Transaminase /ALanine Transaminase) 2.5 fold ULN or 5 fold ULN with liver metastasis, International normalized thromboplastin time ratio >1.5
Inadequate renal function: MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease ) CrCl (Creatinine Clearance) <40ml/min
Others inadequate laboratory values: serum albumin<30 g/L; troponin > ULN ; BNP (Brain-Type Natriuretic Peptide) > ULN.
Active alcohol or drug abuse.