NCT04749641

Brief Summary

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), which diffusely occupy the pons of brainstem, are the deadliest primary brain cancer in children. Biopsy for pathology plus radiotherapy remains the current standard-of-care treatment that is minimal effective. Thus, the median overall survival after diagnosis is just 10 months. Recent studies have identified a lysine 27-to-methionine (K27M) somatic mutation at histone H3 variant (H3.3), as a feature mutation in DIPGs. Several preclinical studies have already demonstrated H3.3-K27M as a promising target for immunotherapy. The researched vaccine is a cancer-treatment vaccine containing an H3.3-K27M targeted neoantigen peptide, that can be taken up by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). APCs can present the peptide with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on cell surface, thereby activating neoantigen-specific T cells and triggering corresponding cytotoxic T cell immune responses to eliminate H3.3-K27M-expressing DIPG cells. The main goal of this study is investigating the safety and preliminary efficacy of the vaccine in treating newly-diagnosed DIPGs when the vaccine is administered in combination with the standard-of-care treatment.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
16

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2021

Typical duration for phase_1

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 3, 2021

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 11, 2021

Completed
25 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 8, 2021

Completed
3.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 14, 2024

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 14, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

June 6, 2025

Status Verified

June 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

3.6 years

First QC Date

February 3, 2021

Last Update Submit

June 4, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Safety of histone H3.3-K27M neoantigen vaccine in treating newly diagnosed DIPGs

    AEs were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03.

    All the Adverse events (AEs) were recorded until 24 weeks after the last shot

  • Rate of the patients who survive for more than one year after surgery/biopsy in all the DIPG patients who receive H3.3-K27M neoantigen vaccine

    One-year survival rate

    One year after surgery or biopsy

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Maximum Tolerated Dose of H3.3-K27M neoantigen vaccine to treat DIPGs

    DLTs were monitored at timepoints of every vaccine shot until the 28th day after the first injection

  • Rate of the patients who survive for more than two years after surgery/biopsy in all the DIPG patients who receive H3.3-K27M neoantigen vaccine

    two years after surgery or biopsy

  • Median Progression-free survival time of the DIPG patients who receive H3.3-K27M neoantigen vaccine

    start 4 weeks after the first shot and every 8 weeks until disease progression

  • Median Overall survival time of the DIPG patients who receive H3.3-K27M neoantigen vaccine

    start 4 weeks after the first shot and every 8 weeks until death

  • Immunological effectiveness of H3.3-K27M neoantigen vaccine for the treatment of DIPG patients

    baseline 1: pre-radiotherapy; baseline 2: immediately after completing radiotherapy; Day 15, Day 57, Day 85 and every 8 weeks thereafter until up to 2 years after the first shot.

Study Arms (2)

Open surgical biopsy

EXPERIMENTAL

A total of 15 subjects with open surgical biopsy indications will receive microsurgical resection, followed by conformal radiotherapy and administration of the researched vaccine.

Biological: Histone H3.3-K27M Neoantigen Vaccine Therapy

Stereotactic biopsy

EXPERIMENTAL

A total of 15 subjects without open surgical biopsy indications will receive stereotactic biopsy, followed by conformal radiotherapy and administration of the researched vaccine.

Biological: Histone H3.3-K27M Neoantigen Vaccine Therapy

Interventions

The researched vaccine, containing H3.3-K27M-targeting neoantigen peptides and poly ICLC, will be administered through subcutaneous injection into DIPG patients after they complete surgical/stereotactic biopsy and conformal radiotherapy. The day of first vaccine injection is defined as D1 (day 1), and then the injections will be administered on D3, D15, Day 29, Day 57, Day 85 and one injection every 8 weeks thereafter. In order to determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of the vaccine, a "6+3" dose escalation design is applied. There are three doses for the vaccine. Dose 1: 0.5mg peptide + Poly ICLC; Dose 2: 1mg peptide + Poly ICLC; Dose 3: 2mg peptide + Poly ICLC.

Open surgical biopsyStereotactic biopsy

Eligibility Criteria

Age5 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • A. First entry criteria
  • Age ≥ 5 years old;
  • Newly-diagnosed patients with DIPG appearance on MRI image;
  • HLA-A2 subtype;
  • The expected survival time exceeds 24 weeks;
  • The KPS score is greater than 50; B. Second entry criteria
  • \. The KPS score is greater than 50; 2. DIPG is diagnosed histologically on tumor tissue obtained by biopsy or surgical resection; 3. H3.3K27M mutation is detected on tumor tissue obtained by biopsy or surgical resection ; 4. Adequate organ functions that meet the following criteria: The absolute number of neutrophils: ≥1500/mm3 Platelet count: ≥75000/uL Hemoglobin: ≥80 g/L Creatinine≤1.5×ULN Bilirubin≤1.5×ULN ALT≤3×ULN AST≤3×ULN 5. Ability to comprehend and sign an informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

  • With past medical history of malignant tumors (except being asymptomatic for more than 3 years);
  • History of allergy to chemotherapeutics or radiosensitizers for the treatment of cancer in central nervous system and head/neck;
  • History of allergy to the vaccine and its ingredients;
  • Comorbidity with HIV infection and/or acute phase of hepatitis B/C;
  • Any progressive diseases that hinder participation in the trial;
  • With unstable cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia et.al.;
  • History of uncontrolled mental illnesses;
  • Inability to comprehend or sign informed consent form or abide by the research procedures;
  • Other conditions believed to hinder participation in this trial at investigator' discretion.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100070, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

GliomaNeoplasms, NeuroepithelialNeuroectodermal TumorsNeoplasms, Germ Cell and EmbryonalNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasmsNeoplasms, Glandular and EpithelialNeoplasms, Nerve TissueBrain Stem NeoplasmsInfratentorial NeoplasmsBrain NeoplasmsCentral Nervous System NeoplasmsNervous System NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System Diseases

Study Officials

  • Liwei Zhang, M.D.

    Beijing Tiantan Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing,100070 P.R.China

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 3, 2021

First Posted

February 11, 2021

Study Start

March 8, 2021

Primary Completion

October 14, 2024

Study Completion

October 14, 2024

Last Updated

June 6, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations