This is a single center, open-label phase I clinical trial designed to determine the safety
of personalized and adjusted neoantigen peptide vaccine (PANDA-VAC) administered concurrently
with pembrolizumab in subjects with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or
squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN).
Subjects will be offered clinical trial participation if per RECIST 1.1 they are determined
to have stable disease, mixed response, oligoprogressive state (defined as disease
progression at a limited number of anatomic sites, with continued response or stable disease
at other sites) or non-threatening progressive disease (defined as progression that fits a
clinical pattern where the treating physician believes that PD-1 therapy post-progression is
appropriate (e.g. multiple sub-centimeter nodules that do not compromise the bronchus)) to an
anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy. Eligible subjects will initiate or continue pembrolizumab
monotherapy and will have archival tissue and a buccal swab sample (matched normal sample
genomic DNA) collected. Whole exome and single cell sequencing studies will be performed
using the archival tumor and matched normal sample to identify tumor specific mutations and
predict personalized human leukocyte antigen (HLA) binding proteins. Based on this
information, 6 neoantigens will be selected for inclusion in the primary personalized
vaccine. The primary therapeutic neoantigen vaccine product (PANDA-VAC) will be comprised of
6 peptides at a dose of 300 micrograms (µg) per peptide admixed with local adjuvant
Poly-ICLC. PANDA-VAC will be administered subcutaneously to six subjects after their first
protocol-mandated disease assessment on pembrolizumab monotherapy. The subjects will receive
five priming doses and two booster vaccinations of PANDA-VAC in combination with continued
pembrolizumab treatment. Enrollment of the first 3 subjects to receive PANDA-VAC will be
staggered by 4 weeks to monitor for acute and subacute adverse events. Subjects with partial
response, stable disease, mixed response, oligoprogressive state or non-threatening
progressive disease (in the opinion of the treating physician) following the full series of
vaccinations may receive adapted vaccine adjusted to address neoantigens emerging during
initial PANDA-VAC and pembrolizumab combination therapy. Subjects will have tissue collected
for DNA and RNA sequencing and prediction of HLA binding proteins, as delineated above for
the initial vaccine production. The therapeutic neoantigen vaccine product will be comprised
of up to 2 additional peptides at a dose of 300 μg per peptide (up to 8 total peptides).
Peptides targeting neoantigens no longer represented in sequencing data may no longer be
included in the neoantigen vaccine product. The primary endpoint of this trial aims to
evaluate the safety of the vaccination administered concurrently with pembrolizumab therapy,
by estimating the unacceptable toxicity rate.
As generation of either the primary therapeutic or adapted neoantigen vaccine requires: (1)
whole exome sequencing studies of the tumor and a matched normal sample from a buccal swab
pre-treatment; (2) RNA sequencing of the tumor pre-treatment; and (3) whole exome sequencing
of circulating cell-free DNA and DNA derived from circulating tumor cells, information gained
from these analyses will also provide extensive exploratory data. With this data, we will
study relationships of mutational and genes expression profiles with depth of response to
therapy. The purpose of these studies is to generate initial data that will allow us to
estimate effect size and variance of the change in immune features with therapeutic
neoantigen vaccine treatment in order to design prospective correlative studies in future
trials.
Inclusion Criteria for Vaccine Generation:
1. Subject must sign an institutional review board (IRB) approved informed consent to
undergo tissue procurement and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health
information.
2. Subject must have a previously treated, histologically confirmed squamous non-small
cell lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma where cure is either not
possible or curative modality therapy is declined by the subject.
3. Subject has adequate archival tumor tissue for sequencing for vaccine generation.
4. Subject has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤ 1.
5. Subject has adequate bone marrow function as demonstrated by:
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 x 10^9/L
- Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥1.0 x 10^9/L
- Hemoglobin >8 g/dL (use of transfusion to reach this threshold prior to study
initiation is acceptable)
- Platelet count ≥100 x 10^9/L
6. Subject has radiographically measurable according to RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST.
7. Subjects must per RECIST 1.1 have stable disease, mixed response, oligoprogressive
state (defined as disease progression at a limited number of anatomic sites, with
continued response or stable disease at other sites of disease) or non-threatening
progression (progression that fits a clinical pattern where the treating physician
believes that PD-1 therapy post-progression is appropriate (e.g. multiple
sub-centimeter nodules that do not compromise the bronchus)) on a PD-1, PDL-1 or
PD-1/L containing regimen.
8. Subject must meet the following criteria:
For squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):
- Tumor expressing PD-L1 (Tumor Proportion Score/TPS ≥1%) as determined by an
FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations
- Subjects with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease
progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations.
Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN):
- As 1st line treatment for tumors expressing PD-L1 [Combined Positive Score (CPS)
≥1] as determined by an FDA-approved test
- As non-1st line treatment for recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease
progression on or after platinum containing chemotherapy
9. Age ≥18 years.
10. Female subject of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception
during the study. Adequate contraception is defined by the concomitant use of at least
2 effective methods of contraception from the time of informed consent until 90 days
after pembrolizumab or PANDA-VAC discontinuation, whichever is longer. The two
contraception methods can be comprised of two barrier methods, or a barrier method
plus a hormonal method or an intrauterine device that meets <1% failure rate for
protection from pregnancy in the product label. Females of non-childbearing potential
are those who are postmenopausal greater than 1 year or who have had a bilateral tubal
ligation or hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy. Female subjects must refrain from
egg cell donation while on pembrolizumab or PANDA-VAC and for at least 90 days after
the last dose of investigational product, based on whichever product was last given.
11. Male subjects with female partners must have had a prior vasectomy or agree to use an
adequate method of contraception (i.e., double barrier method: condom plus spermicidal
agent) starting with the first dose of pembrolizumab through 90 days after the last
dose of pembrolizumab or PANDA-VAC, whichever is longer. Male subjects should agree to
refrain from sperm donation while taking pembrolizumab and/or PANDA-VAC and for at
least 90 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab or PANDA-VAC, whichever is longer.
Should a female partner of a male subject become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant
while participating in the study, he should inform his treating physician and the
female partner should call her physician immediately.
12. Subject is willing and able to comply with the protocol including undergoing treatment
and scheduled visits and examinations.
13. Subject is willing to consent to study-required blood draws and consent for the use of
any residual material from biopsy or prior resections for vaccine generation and
correlative studies.
14. Subject is willing to consent to a mandatory biopsy that is required for adapted
vaccine generation and correlative studies if the subject has partial response, stable
disease, mixed response, or oligoprogressive state following the full series of five
priming and two booster vaccinations.
15. Subject must have recovered from all reversible acute toxic effects of the previous
cancer treatment regimen (other than alopecia) to Grade ≤ 1 or baseline.
Exclusion Criteria for Vaccine Generation:
1. Subject is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an
investigational agent within 4 weeks of study pembrolizumab treatment initiation.
2. Subject has active infection requiring systemic therapy.
3. Subject is pregnant or breastfeeding (Note: breast milk cannot be stored for future
use while the mother is being treated on the study).
4. Subject has a known additional malignancy that is active and/or progressive requiring
treatment; exceptions include basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ
cervical cancer, or other cancer for which the subject has been disease-free for at
least five years.
5. Subject has active central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Treated metastases without
evidence of progression will be allowed. Asymptomatic, subcentimeter metastases not
requiring treatment will be allowed. Any leptomeningeal disease will be excluded.
6. Subject is currently using systemic corticosteroids at doses ≥10mg prednisone daily or
its equivalent, or other immunosuppressive medications including, but not limited to
methotrexate, azathioprine, calcineurin inhibitor, and TNF-α blockers.
7. Subject has known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) or
evidence of active hepatitis B virus (HBV).
8. Subject has a history of primary immunodeficiency.
9. Subject has a history of organ transplant, bone marrow transplant or hematopoietic
stem cell transplantation.
10. Subject has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past
2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or
immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or
physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency,
etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
11. Subject has received a live attenuated vaccines within 30 days of on study
pembrolizumab dosing. Inactivated vaccines, such as the injectable influenza vaccine,
are permitted.
12. Subject has any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere
with evaluation of study treatment or interpretation of subject safety or study
results.
13. Subject is not a good candidate for treatment with pembrolizumab and PANDA-VAC per
investigator's discretion.
Eligibility Criteria for Vaccination:
1. Subject must sign written informed consent to enroll in the PANDA-VAC therapy trial.
2. Subject must have completed at least two cycles of standard of care therapy with
pembrolizumab.
3. Subject has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤2.
4. Subject has radiographically measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST.
5. Subjects must per RECIST 1.1 have stable disease, mixed response, oligoprogressive
state (defined as disease progression at a limited number of anatomic sites, with
continued response or stable disease at other sites of disease) or progressive
disease.
6. Subject has adequate bone marrow function as demonstrated by:
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 x 10^9/L
- Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥0.5 x 10^9/L
- Hemoglobin >8 g/dL (use of transfusion to reach this threshold prior to study
initiation is acceptable)
- Platelet count ≥50 x 10^9/L
7. Subject has adequate hepatic and renal function as demonstrated by:
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x upper
limit of normal (ULN) (unless liver metastases are present, in which case they
must be ≤ 5 x ULN);
- Total serum bilirubin ≤1.5 mg/dL (subjects with Gilbert's syndrome may be
enrolled despite a total bilirubin level >1.5 mg/dL if their conjugated bilirubin
is <1.5 × ULN));
- Creatinine clearance (CrCl) >40mL/min as measured according to Cockcroft-Gault
equation.
8. Subject has negative serum βhCG pregnancy test within 72 hours of day 1 of initial
administration of vaccine in women of childbearing potential.
9. Subject does not have active infection requiring systemic therapy (In the case of such
infection, it is acceptable to delay vaccine administration. The use of additional
interim pembrolizumab prior to vaccine administration will be at the discretion of the
treating physician).
