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Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05013216

Mutant KRAS -Targeted Long Peptide Vaccine for Patients at High Risk of Developing Pancreatic Cancer

This Phase 1 study will evaluate safety and the immune response to pooled mutant-KRAS peptide vaccine with poly-ICLC adjuvant for patients who have been identified to be at risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

40 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21231, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Colleen Apostol, RN

CONTACT

[email protected]

410-614-3644

Nilofer Azad, MD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

This study will evaluate safety and the immune response to pooled mutant-KRAS peptide vaccine (KRAS peptide vaccine) with poly-ICLC adjuvant. The primary endpoints of this study are to determine the safety of administering the KRAS peptide vaccine with poly-ICLC adjuvant and to assess the maximal percent change of IFN-γ-producing mutant-KRAS-specific T cells per patient at any time after vaccination. Twenty five patients will be enrolled to achieve 20 evaluable patients for Cohort A. Twelve patients will be enrolled to achieve 10 evaluable patients for Cohort B.

For all patients, the study will consist of a screening phase, treatment phase, and a follow-up visit. All subjects will have the option remaining on study with annual follow-up visits that begin approximately one year after the last vaccine dose and continue annually thereafter until study closure.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Cohort A: Must fall into one of the three categories defined as high risk of developing pancreatic cancer and are undergoing pancreatic surveillance AND 2) have documented radiographic evidence of a pancreatic abnormality such as a pancreatic cyst.

  • High Risk Group 1 (familial pancreatic cancer relatives):
  • >/=55 years old or 10 years younger than the age of youngest relative with pancreatic cancer, and
  • Come from a family with 2 or more members with a history of pancreatic cancer (2 of which have a first-degree relationship consistent with familial pancreatic cancer), and
  • Have a first-degree relationship with at least one of the relatives with pancreatic cancer.
  • If there are 2 or more affected blood relatives, at least 1 must be a first-degree relative of the individual being screened.
  • High Risk Group 2 (Germline mutation carriers with an associated with an estimated lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer of ~10% or higher):
  • >/=40 years old and the Patient is a carrier of FAMMM (p16/CDKN2A) mutation regardless of family pancreas cancer history.

OR

  • >/= 50 years old or 10 years younger than the age of the youngest relative with pancreatic cancer, and the Patient is a carrier of a known BRCA2, ATM, PALB2 mutation.
  • Persons with known genetic mutation should have proof of mutation status. Those who had research-related genetic testing must have confirmation by a clinical CLIA-certified laboratory.

o High Risk Group 3 (Germline mutation carriers with an associated with an estimated lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer of ~5%):

  • >/= 50 years old or 10 years younger than the age of the youngest relative with pancreatic cancer, and
  • The patient is a carrier of a known, BRCA1, or HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer or Lynch syndrome, hMLH1, hMSH2, PMS1, hMSH6, EpCAM) gene mutation, and there is > 1 pancreatic cancer in the family, one of whom is a first- or second-degree relative of the subject to be screened.
  • Persons with known genetic mutation should have proof of mutation status. Those who had research-related genetic testing must have confirmation by a clinical CLIA-certified laboratory.
  • Cohort A: Patients must have a pancreatic imaging abnormality that is being followed by pancreatic imaging surveillance (EUS and/or MRI and /or CT), such as a pancreatic cyst consistent with an IPMN or parenchymal abnormalities consistent with PanIN.
  • Cohort B: Patients must have clinical, radiographic, or histologic evidence of pancreatic cystic neoplasm with high-risk features warranting surgical resection per the discretion of the treating hepatobiliary surgeon.
  • Cohort B: Patients must have cystic fluid testing that demonstrates the presence of one of the six KRAS mutations included in the study vaccine.
  • Patients must have adequate organ and marrow function defined by study-specified laboratory tests prior to initial study drug.
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
  • Woman of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and follow contraceptive guidelines as defined per protocol.
  • Men must use acceptable form of birth control while on study.

Exclusion criteria

  • If expected to require any other form of systemic or localized antineoplastic therapy while on study.
  • Within 4 weeks prior to first dose of study drug.

o Any systemic or topical corticosteroids at immunosuppressive agents.

  • Within 4 weeks prior to first dose of study drug.
  • Any investigational device.
  • Has received a live vaccine.
  • Received any allergen hyposensitization therapy.
  • Any major surgery.
  • Infection with HIV or hepatitis B or C.
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, uncontrolled infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmia, metastatic cancer, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements monoclonal antibody.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency.
  • Any other sound medical, psychiatric, and/or social reason as determined by the Investigator.
  • Unwilling or unable to follow the study schedule for any reason.
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Treatment and study plan

Cohort A: Patients at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Drug
  • KRAS peptide vaccine with poly-ICLC adjuvant will be administered on Prime week 1, 3, and 5. Boost vaccinations with will be administered at week 13. All subjects will return to the study site approximately 28 days (+ 7 days) after the last vaccination for an End of Treatment (EOT) and safety evaluation.
  • Drug: up to 1.8 mg KRAS peptide vaccine + 0.5mg Poly-ICLC

Other names: Hiltonol® (Poly-ICLC)

Cohort B: Patients must have evidence of a pancreatic cystic neoplasm

Drug

Patients will receive KRAS peptide vaccine with poly-ICLC adjuvant as two prime vaccinations on weeks 1 and 2. Surgery is considered standard of care. Surgery will occur at the discretion of the treating hepatobiliary surgeon and is not dictated by this protocol. Subjects will return to the study site approximately at week 4 (+ 7 days) for a safety evaluation prior to surgery. Subjects will have an End of Treatment (EOT) visit at study Week 8 (+ 7 days).

Other names: Hiltonol® (Poly-ICLC)

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of participants experiencing study drug-related toxicities

    Time frame: 1.5 years

    Number of participants experiencing study drug-related adverse events Grade 3 or higher as defined by CTCAE v5.0

  2. Maximal percentage of change of interferon (IFN-γ) producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells

    Time frame: 17 weeks

    Maximal percent change per patient within 17 weeks after vaccination.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 5 weeks.

    Time frame: Baseline, 5 weeks (Cohort A)

    Evaluated by the fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 5 weeks after vaccination compared to pre-vaccination baseline.

  2. Fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 13 weeks.

    Time frame: Baseline, 13 weeks (Cohort A)

    Evaluated by the fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 13 weeks after vaccination compared to pre-vaccination baseline.

  3. Fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 17 weeks.

    Time frame: Baseline,17 weeks (Cohort A)

    Evaluated by the fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 17 (EOT) weeks after vaccination compared to pre-vaccination baseline.

Other outcomes

  1. Fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 1 weeks.

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week (Cohort B)

    Evaluated by the fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 5 weeks after vaccination compared to pre-vaccination baseline.

  2. Fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 4 weeks.

    Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks (Cohort B)

    Evaluated by the fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 13 weeks after vaccination compared to pre-vaccination baseline.

  3. Fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 8 weeks.

    Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks (Cohort B)

    Evaluated by the fold change in interferon-producing mutant-KRAS-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells at 17 (EOT) weeks after vaccination compared to pre-vaccination baseline.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Colleen Apostol, RN

CONTACT

[email protected]

410-614-3644

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Stand Up To Cancer

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2031
First posted
Aug 19, 2021
Registry last updated
Jun 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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