FusionVAC22_01: A phase I clinical trial evaluating a DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript-based peptide vaccine combined with immune checkpoint inhibition for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and other tumor entities carrying the oncogenic driver fusion.

Authors

null

Michael Bitzer

Department for Internal Medicine I, Center for Personalized Medicine; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180), Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany

Michael Bitzer , Christopher Hackenbruch , Jens Bauer , Jonas S. Heitmann , Yacine Maringer , Annika Nelde , Helmut R. Salih , Juliane S. Walz

Organizations

Department for Internal Medicine I, Center for Personalized Medicine; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180), Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany, University Hospital Tübingen, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180), Tübingen, Germany, Department of Peptide-based Immunotherapy; Institute for Cell Biology; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Tübingen, Germany, University Hospital Tübingen, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, Tübingen, Germany

Research Funding

Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation
Medical Faculty of Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany, Roche Pharma AG

Background: The DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript is the driver of tumor pathogenesis in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) as well as in other tumor entities, e.g. oncocytic neoplasms of the pancreas and bile duct, thus representing a broad target for novel therapies in cancer. Recently, the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion protein was identified as a source for HLA-presented neoepitopes that can be targeted by T-cell-based immunotherapy (Bauer et al. Nat. Commun., 2022). The DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion-derived neoepitope FusionVAC-22 is in silico predicted to bind to 1,290 HLA class II alleles and contains HLA class I ligands from 13 of the 20 most frequent HLA class I alleles that cover 93.8% of the world population with at least one HLA allotype, enabling the broad application of FusionVAC-22-based immunotherapies. The first application of FusionVAC-22-based peptide vaccines adjuvanted with the TLR1/2 agonist XS15 emulsified in Montanide ISA 51 VG in two FL-HCC patients was well tolerated and showed the induction of profound and long-lasting T-cell responses. Of note, T-cell responses were accompanied by progression-free survival of both patients for so far 32 months and 13 months, respectively. Methods: Based on these encouraging results, we established a Phase I open-label, multicentric clinical trial to evaluate the immunogenicity along with safety and toxicity, as well as first signs of efficacy of the FusionVAC-22 based peptide vaccine, combined with the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) atezolizumab, in 20 patients with locally advanced or metastatic FL-HCC or other malignant diseases that carry the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript. Further, key eligibility criteria include the absence of autoimmune phenomena due to prior immunotherapy agents (≥ grade 3) as well as tissue or organ allografts. The FusionVAC-22-based peptide vaccine is applied twice in a 4-weekly interval with the opportunity of a booster vaccination after 11 months. Atezolizumab application starts on day 15 after first vaccination and is continued 4-weekly for 1 year, followed by a 6-month follow-up. The primary objectives of the trial are immunogenicity, in terms of induction of peptide specific T-cell responses until 28 days after second vaccination, as well as safety and toxicity of the peptide vaccine in combination with ICI. Safety assessment is based on the frequency of adverse events according to CTCAE v5.0. Clinical efficacy is determined by iRECIST assessment on imaging. Furthermore, disease control rate, quality of life as well as overall and progression free survival will be assessed. Clinical trial information: NCT05937295.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Trials in Progress Poster Session

Session Title

Trials in Progress Poster Session B: Cancers of the Pancreas, Small Bowel, and Hepatobiliary Tract

Track

Pancreatic Cancer,Hepatobiliary Cancer,Neuroendocrine/Carcinoid,Small Bowel Cancer

Sub Track

Therapeutics

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT05937295

Citation

J Clin Oncol 42, 2024 (suppl 3; abstr TPS580)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2024.42.3_suppl.TPS580

Abstract #

TPS580

Poster Bd #

P9

Abstract Disclosures