Experimental combo targets Hard-to-Treat HPV cancers
NCT ID NCT03260023
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a combination of two drugs—TG4001 (a biologic that targets HPV) and avelumab (an immunotherapy)—in people with advanced HPV-16 cancers that cannot be removed by surgery or cured by radiation. The trial has two phases: first, to find a safe dose, and second, to see if the combination shrinks tumors better than avelumab alone. About 143 participants with cervical, anal, penile, or vulvar cancers are being enrolled.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- TG4001 (a vaccine-like biologic) and avelumab (an immunotherapy drug)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced HPV-16 cancers that have stopped responding to other therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial (Phase 1/2) with a small number of participants. The combination may cause serious side effects, and it is not yet known if it works better than existing treatments.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
-
143 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Sep 2017
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Female or male participants, aged at least 18 years (no upper limit of age) * ECOG PS 0 or 1 * Life expectancy of at least 3 months * Participants with histologically or cytologically documented metastatic or refractory/recurrent HPV-16 + cancer: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile and anal. * Disease MUST not be amenable to curative surgery resection or curative radiotherapy with documented disease progression * Prior therapy: * No more than one prior systemic treatment for recurrent /metastatic disease * Prior treatment for recurrent or metastatic disease is not required for: * Participants with recurrence/progression within 6 months after completion of prior multimodal therapy for localized or locally advanced disease * Participants who are unsuitable for platinum-based therapy * Participants who refuse chemotherapy or other standard therapies for the treatment of metastatic or recurrent disease * Limited hepatic disease for participants with liver metastases at baseline * Availability of tumor tissue from biopsy * At least one measurable lesion by CT scan according to RECIST 1.1. * Adequate hematological, hepatic and renal function * Negative blood pregnancy test at screening for women of childbearing potential * Highly effective contraception for both male and female participants if the risk of conception exists during the study period and for 3 months after the last study treatment administration Exclusion Criteria: * Prior exposure to cancer immunotherapy including cancer vaccines, any antibody/drug targeting T cell co-regulatory proteins (immune checkpoints) * Participants under chronic treatment with systemic corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for a period of at least 4 weeks and whose treatment was not stopped 2 weeks prior to the first study treatment, with the exception of participants with adrenal insufficiency who may continue corticosteroids at physiological replacement dose, equivalent to ≤ 10 mg prednisone daily. Steroids with no or minimal systemic effect (topical, inhalation) are allowed * Participants with CNS metastases except those with brain metastases treated locally and clinically stable during 4 weeks prior to start of study treatment, and those without ongoing neurological symptoms that are related to the brain localization of the disease * Other active malignancy requiring concurrent systemic intervention * Participants with previous malignancies other than the target malignancy to be investigated in this trial (except non-melanoma skin cancers, and the following in situ cancers: bladder, gastric, colon, endometrial, cervical/dysplasia, melanoma, or breast) are excluded unless a complete remission was achieved at least 2 years prior to study entry AND no additional therapy is required during the study period * Participant with any organ transplantation, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation * Known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (Grade ≥ 3 NCI-CTC), any history of anaphylaxis, or uncontrolled asthma * Any known allergy or reaction to eggs, gentamycin or attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to therapeutic vaccines/immunotherapeutic products * Any known allergy or reaction to any component of anti-PD-L1/PD-1 or its excipients * Participants with known history or any evidence of active interstitial lung disease / pneumonitis * Participants with active, known, or suspected auto-immune disease or immunodeficiency, except type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement or skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis) not requiring systemic treatment * Clinically significant (that is, active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke or myocardial infarction (\< 6 months prior to enrollment), unstable angina pectoris, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Classification Class ≥ II), or serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication/active intervention, history of myocarditis * History of uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to: * Hypertension uncontrolled by standard therapies (not stabilized to 150/90 mmHg or lower) * Uncontrolled diabetes (e.g., hemoglobin A1c ≥ 8%) * Uncontrolled infection
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for HPV-16 positive recurrent or metastatic cervical carcinoma are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
CHU Besançon
Besançon, France
-
CLCC Georges-François Leclerc
Dijon, France
-
Centre Léon Bérard
Lyon, France
-
Centre Paul Strauss - ICANS - Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe
Strasbourg, France
-
Fundación de Investigación Biomédica Hospital Clínico San Carlos
Madrid, Spain
-
Fundación de Investigación biomédica H. 12 de Octubre
Madrid, Spain
-
Hopital de la Timone
Marseille, France
-
Hospital General de Valencia
Valencia, Spain
-
Hospital Virgen de La Victoria
Málaga, Spain
-
Hospital Virgen de las Nieves
Granada, Spain
-
Hôpital Saint André - CHU de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France
-
Hôpitaux Civils de Colmar - Hôpital Pasteur
Colmar, France
-
I.C.O. Gauducheau
Saint-Herblain, France
-
I.C.O. Paul Papin
Angers, France
-
ICO Badalona - Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol
Badalona, Spain
-
Institut Claudius Regaud - IUCT - Oncopole
Toulouse, France
-
Institut Curie
Paris, France
-
Institut Gustave Roussy
Villejuif, France
-
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, United States
-
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Tailored radiation beams aim to outsmart aggressive throat cancer
- HPV vaccine in healthy donors could help fight cancer
- Can a simple blood test predict cancer return? new study investigates
- Experimental immune therapy aims to tackle HPV cancers before standard care
- Supercharged immune cells take on HPV cancers
- Blood test could guide anal cancer treatment, reducing side effects