Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) Alone or in Combination With Immunotherapy Vaccine PRGN-2009 in Subjects With Newly Diagnosed HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal (Head and Neck) Cancer
Eligible age
18–120 yrs
Accepts
All genders
Locations
1 state
Healthy volunteers
No
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About this study
Background: Throat cancer is a common tumor that can occur in people infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV). Most people with this cancer survive more than 5 years with standard chemotherapy drugs plus radiation. But radiation can cause serious adverse effects. Researchers believe that adding a vaccine (PRGN-2009) to this drug therapy may improve survival without the need for radiation. Objective: To test a study vaccine combined with standard chemotherapy in patients with HPV-associated throat cancers. Eligibility: People aged 18 years and older with newly diagnosed throat cancer associated with HPV. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam and blood tests. They will have imaging scans and tests of their heart function and hearing. They will provide a sample of tissue from their tumor. A recent sample may be used; if none is available, a new sample will be taken. All participants will get two common drugs for treating cancer. These drugs are given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. Participants will receive these drugs on the first day of three 3-week cycles. Half of the participants will also get the vaccine. PRGN-2009 is injected under the skin in the arm. They will get these shots 4 times: 7 days before the start of the first cycle and on the 11th day of each cycle. Participants will have standard surgery to remove their tumors 3 to 6 weeks after completing the study treatment. They will have follow-up visits 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after their surgery. ...
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
You may not qualify if…
- ✕ Peripheral motor or sensory neuropathy \> Grade 2 per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v.5 at screening.
- ✕ Prior therapy with an investigational drug, live vaccine, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or any prior radiotherapy (except for palliative bone-directed therapy) within 4 weeks prior to the first study drug administration. Note: Participants may continue adjuvant hormonal therapy in the setting of a definitively treated cancer (e.g., breast).
- ✕ Prior therapy with any medications or substances that are moderate or strong inducers or moderate or strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP3A) https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/DrugInteractionsLabeling/ucm093664.htm#table2-2,table3-3,table5-2 within 2 weeks prior to the first study drug administration.
- ✕ History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to drugs used in the study.
- ✕ Systemic (intravenous or oral) glucocorticoid (except for physiologic doses of corticosteroids, i.e., \<= the equivalent of prednisone 10 mg/day) or other immunosuppressors such as azathioprine or cyclosporin A within 1 week prior to study treatment initiation. Note: Glucocorticoids as premedication for contrast-enhanced studies are allowed.
- ✕ Second malignancy active within the previous 2 years except for indolent or locally curable malignancy that is currently considered cured and/or does not require an additional standard of care treatment, such as, but not limited to, cutaneous basal or squamous cell carcinoma, superficial bladder cancer, or cervical carcinoma in situ, or an incidental histological finding of prostate cancer or differentiated thyroid cancer.
- ✕ Prior allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant.
- ✕ History of heart failure.
Where it's recruiting
Bethesda
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06223568 · last updated 2026-06-10