A trial of a vaccine for cancers that tested positive to the human papilloma virus (HARE-40)
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This trial is looking at a vaccine called RNA for people with cancer that tested positive to the human papilloma virus (HPV positive).
HPV positive cancers can include:
More about this trial
The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common virus. There are different types of HPV and most don’t cause any serious problems. But some types, such as HPV16, can cause changes to cells that can develop into cancer.
In this trial doctors are looking at a new vaccine called RNA. It has been made in the laboratory to help the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
There are 2 groups (arms) in this trial:
- people who have had treatment for head and neck cancer that tested positive for HPV16 and there is no sign of the cancer coming back (arm 1A)
- people with any type of cancer that has tested positive to HPV16 and doctors think they can’t be cured (arm 1B)
The main aims of this trial are to:
- find the highest safe dose of RNA vaccine that can be given
- learn about the side effects
- find out how well the RNA vaccine works as a treatment
- find out if the RNA vaccine increases the number of immune system cells such as white blood cells in the body
Who can enter
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this trial. Talk to your doctor or the trial team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can enter
You may be able to join this trial if all of the following apply.
- You are at least 18 years old
- You have good veins that the team can access to get blood samples and do leukapheresis
- You are willing to use reliable contraception during treatment and for a month afterwards if there is any possibility you or your partner could become pregnant
You may be able to join the arm 1A if all of the following also apply.
- You have had treatment for a head and neck cancer that tested positive to HPV16 more than a year but less than 5 years ago
- There is no sign of your cancer coming back
- You are well enough to carry out your normal activities, apart from heavy physical work (performance status of 0 or 1)
You may be able to join arm 1B if all of the following also apply.
- Your cancer has tested positive to HPV16 and has come back after treatment
- Doctors think your cancer can no longer be cured
- You are willing and it's safe to have samples of your cancer taken (a biopsy)
- You have a suitable sample of tissue available to be tested for HPV (your doctor will check this)
Who cannot enter
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply.
Cancer related
- You have had a RNA vaccine
- You have, or have had, another cancer apart from basal or squamous cell skin cancer that has been successfully treated, any other cancer that was treated with the aim of curing you, there has been no sign of it for at least 5 years in arm 1A and at least 2 years in arm 1B and there is a low risk of it coming back
Medical conditions
- You have an autoimmune disease that your doctor thinks could affect you taking part
- You have taken drugs that damp down your immune system (immunosuppressants) such as steroids in the past 2 weeks, unless this was to replace something that the body makes such as cortisol
- You have heart problems such as congestive heart failure or any other condition that causes tiredness (fatigue) or shortness of breath when you are exercising
- You have high levels of liver enzymes in your body
- You have HIV
- You have hepatitis B or hepatitis C
- You have syphilis
- You have had an experimental drug in the past 28 days
- You have had a major surgery in the past 3 or 4 weeks and you still have side effects from it
- You have a serious infection that is not being controlled by medication
- You have any other serious medical condition that the trial team thinks could affect you taking part in this trial
- You are known to have severe allergies
Other
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
Trial design
This is an international phase 1/2 trial. The researchers need up to 40 people from the UK to take part.
This trial has 2 groups (arms):
- arm 1a – doctors need around 15 people who have been successfully treated for HPV16 positive head and neck cancer to join this arm
- arm 1b – doctors need around 29 people with other types of HPV16 positive cancer who cannot be cured to join this arm
The dose of the 1st RNA vaccine you have depends on when you join the trial. You start on a small dose and if you don’t have any serious side effects, you have a higher dose for the next vaccine. And so on, until doctors find the best dose.
You have the vaccine once a week for a month. Then you have it every 2 weeks. You have up to 8 RNA vaccines.
You may be able to continue to have the RNA vaccine if you are in arm 1B and your doctor thinks the vaccines are helping you. This is called continued dosing. Your doctor can tell you more about this.
Blood tests
You have some extra blood tests as part of this trial. Researchers want to:
- study how much protection against HPV 16 your immune system has (your immune memory to HPV)
- look at the immune system cells
- look for certain proteins (markers) that can tell how well the immune system works
You have the extra blood tests before starting treatment, at set times during the trial, at the end of the trial and 3 months after finishing treatment.
Sample of immune cells
The research team might ask for a large sample of your immune system cells. You have these cells collected using a process called leukapheresis.
To have leukapheresis you have a tube into a vein. The tube removes blood that then passes into a machine that takes the white blood cells. The rest of your blood cells and the blood fluid (plasma) then go back into your body through another tube.
You have the leukapheresis after the end of treatment. It takes about 3 hours.
Tissue sample
The trial team will ask to use a tissue sample of your cancer taken either when you were diagnosed or during any treatment you have had. They will look at the cancer and the immune system cells.
They will also ask you to have new tissue samples taken if you are in arm 1B. You have it before the start of treatment and then:
- at the end of treatment
- if your cancer gets worse
Hospital visits
You see a doctor and have some tests before taking part. These tests might include:
You need to stay in hospital for a few hours after each vaccine. The amount of time you stay depends on when you join the trial.
During treatment, you see the doctor for blood tests and a physical examination every week, for 4 weeks. You then see the doctor every 2 weeks. This continues for about 3 months.
When you finish treatment you see the trial doctor 3 months after your last vaccine. You then have regular follow up for 2 years. This could be over the phone or in a clinic. The trial team might also phone your GP.
If you are in group 1B, you have a CT scan or MRI scan before treatment starts and then:
- 6 weeks after the first vaccine
- after the last vaccine
- 3 months after the last vaccine
Side effects
This is the first time the RNA vaccine has been given to people so there may be side effects we don’t know about yet.
The trial team monitor you during the time you have treatment and you have a phone number to call them if you are worried about anything. The team will tell you about all the possible side effects before you start the trial.
Researchers think the most common side effects of RNA vaccine are likely to be:
- a high temperature (fever) and chills or shivers
- pain in your muscles, joints and back
- blocked nose
- skin rash and swelling around the injection site
- fast heart beat and low or high blood pressure
- shortness of breath
- loose poo (diarrhoea)
- sweating
- tiredness (fatigue)
- feeling and being sick
- flu like symptoms
- fainting and vertigo
- headaches
- difficulty falling asleep (insomnia)
- loss of appetite
- changes to the levels of immune cells in your blood such as low levels of platelets
- high levels of liver enzymes and a substance called bilirubin
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Professor Christian Ottensmeier
Supported by
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)
Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU)
University of Southampton
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
