NCT06862102

Brief Summary

Multiple infections of high-risk genotypes of Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in patients with abnormal cervical cytological or histological findings are detectable in a percentage ranging from 20% to 50% of cases. Some studies have detected a certain tendency to specific clustering in multiple infections, both inter-species and inter-genotypic, such as HPV 31-35-56, HPV 16-51-52, HPV 16-18, HPV 51-52. Furthermore, a greater tendency of the HPV16 genotype to cluster with genotypes of different species is reported in the literature. However, other studies claim a random character of such genotypic associations in multiple infections. This heterogeneity of results of the studies present in the literature underlies multiple factors, both epidemiological and methodological, implicated in the high variability of prevalence and diagnostic findings of multiple infections. In particular, with regard to epidemiological characteristics, factors influencing the distribution of multiple infections appear to be the origin and type of population, economic-social status, young age, HIV seropositivity and recent sexual activity. A further hypothesized element is represented by a possible individual susceptibility dictated by the immune profile of the host towards specific genotypes, potentially facilitating the occurrence of co-infections by these, possibly resulting in a synergistic effect on the oncogenic potential. From a clinical point of view, to date multiple cross-sectional studies suggest an association between multiple infections of HR-HPVs and an increased risk of high-grade cervical dysplasia. In particular, a proportional relationship is observed between the number of genotypes present and the severity of the lesion. Furthermore, it has been reported that the correlation between multiple HR-HPV infections and severe cervical dysplasia CIN2+ is significant both in the presence and absence of the known oncogenic genotype HPV16, assuming a possible synergistic interaction between specific high-risk genotypes. However, other studies seem to refute the clinical relevance of multiple infections in the risk of neoplastic progression of cervical lesions, mostly claiming the precept of "one virus, one lesion", such that each dysplastic lesion is associated with the action of a distinct HR-HPV genotype. In this assumption, therefore, it is argued that moderate-severe cervical dysplasias are due to the action of a single oncogenic genotype, predominantly HPV16, while the presence of other HR-HPVs is attributable to transient infections, mostly represented by mild dysplasias (CIN1). As far as biological knowledge is concerned, in vitro studies currently demonstrate how it is possible for a single cell to be co-infected by at least two HR-HPV genotypes and how this can result in peculiar inter-genotypic molecular interactions that influence the replication cycle and the respective capacity for cellular persistence and transformation of the individual genotypes involved. The inter-genotypic competition mechanisms detected, therefore, occur mostly during the initial phases of acute infection by the HR-HPVs involved. However, it has been demonstrated that when a persistent infection of a genotype has already been established, this is no longer able to negatively interact with a subsequent incident infection by a different HR-HPV genotype. This finding in the biological field is consistent with the clinical correlate according to which the association between multiple HR-HPV infections and the risk of high-grade cervical dysplasia is greater when these are established on a pre-existing persistent infection. Therefore, it is conceivable that there is a higher rate of genotype-specific association in multiple HR-HPV infections found in cervical dysplastic lesions, defined by the peculiar capacities of the individual genotypes to give rise to persistent cellular infections. Despite the proven efficacy of vaccination programs in preventing cervical dysplastic lesions and infection by the main viral genotypes with high oncogenic risk, numerous studies demonstrate the clinical efficacy of HPV vaccination also in reducing the rate of disease recurrence in patients undergoing excisional treatment. A first explanatory hypothesis of this phenomenon is represented by the protection that the vaccination procedure would provide to those patients not previously infected by the target HR-HPV genotypes, potentially causative of de novo infections with high oncogenic risk. A further hypothesis under study is represented by the fact that the administration of the HPV vaccine following excisional treatment would prevent the reduction of the immune response against HPV.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
152

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for all trials

Timeline
32mo left

Started Jan 2021

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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

Study Progress67%
Jan 2021Dec 2028

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 8, 2021

Completed
4.1 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 1, 2025

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 6, 2025

Completed
12 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 28, 2026

Completed
2.8 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2028

Expected
Last Updated

March 10, 2025

Status Verified

February 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

5.1 years

First QC Date

March 1, 2025

Last Update Submit

March 6, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • effect of HPV vaccination on multiple HPV infection

    To evaluate the effect of multiple HPV infections on the risk of regression, persistence or progression to CIN2/3 after 24 months from biopsy for CIN1+ in relation to the execution of HPV vaccine.

    2 years

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • progression to CIN2+ in vaccinated group

    2 years

Study Arms (2)

CIN1 with multiple HPV genotypes infection underwent vaccination

Biological: HPV vaccine

CIN1+ with multiple HPV genotypes infection not underwent vaccination

Interventions

HPV vaccineBIOLOGICAL

vaccine administration

CIN1 with multiple HPV genotypes infection underwent vaccination

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

patients with HPV infection and abnormal citology attending colposcopy

You may qualify if:

  • Pap smear cytology suggestive of dysplastic cervical lesion worthy of colposcopic evaluation and HPV test
  • HPV-related vaginal and/or vulvar lesion
  • patients with histological diagnosis after biopsy of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) or invasive cervical cancer of stage lower than FIGO staging 1B.

You may not qualify if:

  • pregnancy
  • age less than 18 years
  • previous treatment for HPV-related vaginal, vulvar or cervical lesion in the previous 5 years

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, SC Ostetricia e Ginecologia 1

Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

  • Ghelardi A, Parazzini F, Martella F, Pieralli A, Bay P, Tonetti A, Svelato A, Bertacca G, Lombardi S, Joura EA. SPERANZA project: HPV vaccination after treatment for CIN2. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 Nov;151(2):229-234. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.08.033. Epub 2018 Sep 6. No abstract available.

    PMID: 30197061BACKGROUND
  • Spinillo A, Gardella B, Roccio M, Alberizzi P, Cesari S, Patrizia M, Silini E. Multiple human papillomavirus infection with or without type 16 and risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia among women with cervical cytological abnormalities. Cancer Causes Control. 2014 Dec;25(12):1669-76. doi: 10.1007/s10552-014-0471-6. Epub 2014 Oct 9.

    PMID: 25296710BACKGROUND

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

cervical stripping

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Uterine Cervical Dysplasia

Interventions

Papillomavirus Vaccines

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Precancerous ConditionsNeoplasmsUterine Cervical DiseasesUterine DiseasesGenital Diseases, FemaleFemale Urogenital DiseasesFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesGenital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Viral VaccinesVaccinesBiological ProductsComplex Mixtures

Central Study Contacts

Barbara Gardella, Principal investigator

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
CASE CONTROL
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
MD

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 1, 2025

First Posted

March 6, 2025

Study Start

January 8, 2021

Primary Completion

February 28, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2028

Last Updated

March 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

at the end of the study

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP

Locations