E7 T-cell therapy for advanced HPV-related cancers
Official title: A Feasibility Study of E7 TCR-T Cell Induction Therapy for Locoregionally Advanced HPV-Associated Cancers
Run by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · NCT05639972 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment using specially modified immune cells to see if it can help people with advanced cancers linked to HPV feel better and live longer.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase1; Phase2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 15 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine |
| Locations | 2 sites (New Brunswick, New Jersey and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 11, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2028 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | October 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05639972 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults over 18 with HPV16-positive locoregionally advanced cervical or oropharyngeal cancers and specific HLA typing.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with HPV-negative tumors or those who do not meet the HLA-A*02:01 allele requirement may not benefit from this therapy.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using E7 T-cell receptor (TCR) therapy as an induction treatment for patients with locoregionally advanced HPV-associated cancers. Participants will undergo apheresis to obtain T cells, which will be genetically engineered to create E7 TCR-T cells. Following a preparative regimen, they will receive a single infusion of these engineered T cells along with adjuvant aldesleukin. The study will assess tumor response and disease-free survival rates at 2 and 5 years after treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could improve tumor response and overall survival for patients with advanced HPV-associated cancers.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is innovative, similar studies using T-cell therapies for HPV-related cancers have shown promising results.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Subjects must meet all the following criteria to participate in this study.
1. Histologically confirmed carcinoma of a primary tumor site and stage indicated in Table 3 of the protocol.
2. Tumor with HPV16 genotype as determined by testing performed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratory.
3. HLA-A\*02:01 allele determined by testing performed in a CLIA certified laboratory. Participants may be enrolled based on low resolution typing (i.e., HLA-A\*02) but the HLA-A\*02:01 allele type must be confirmed prior to apheresis.
4. Measurable disease per RECIST Criteria Version 1.1 or PERCIST.
5. Age ≥ 18 years.
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 at screening.
7. Negative pregnancy test for women under 55 and all women who have had a menstrual period in the last 12 months. A pregnancy test is not required for women who have had a bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy.
8. Men and women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (i.e., intrauterine device, hormonal barrier method of birth control, abstinence, tubal ligation, or vasectomy) prior to study entry and for four months after treatment. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
9. Seronegative for HIV antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis C antibody. If a hepatitis C antibody test is positive, then testing for antigen by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) must be negative.
10. Participants must have organ and marrow function as defined below:
1. Leukocytes \> 3,000/mcL
2. Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mcL
3. Platelets \> 100,000/mcL
4. Hemoglobin \> 9.0 g/dL
5. Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits except in participants with Gilbert's Syndrome who must have a total bilirubin \< 3.0 mg/dL.
6. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (SGOT)/ alanine transaminase (ALT) (SGPT) \< 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
7. Calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) \>50 mL/min/1.73 m2 for participants with creatinine levels above institutional normal (by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation).
8. International normalized ratio (INR) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤1.5 X ULN unless the subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy. Subjects on anticoagulant therapy must have a PT or aPTT within therapeutic range and no history of severe hemorrhage.
11. Participants must be able to understand and be willing to sign the written informed consent document.
12. Participants must agree to participate in Rutgers protocol 192103 (Pro2021002307) for gene therapy long term follow up and in Rutgers protocol 192002 (Pro2021000281) for biospecimen studies.
Note: Patients may have undergone minor surgical procedures with the past three weeks, as long as all toxicities have recovered to Grade 1 or less.
Exclusion Criteria: Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
1. Have received prior systemic therapy or definitive chemoradiation for the cancer that is being treated on this protocol. Palliative radiation therapy for symptom management, such as to control tumor-induced bleeding, is permitted.
2. Current treatment with another investigational agent.
3. History of severe allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to agents used in this study.
4. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness such as active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations at the time of treatment that would limit compliance with study requirements.
5. Subjects with HLA-A\*02:01 damaging mutation or allele loss detected by research or clinical sequencing will not be eligible.
6. Documented LVEF of less than or equal to 45% tested. The following participants will undergo cardiac evaluations:
1. Clinically significant atrial and/or ventricular arrhythmias including but not limited to: atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, second or third degree heart block or
2. Age ≥ 50 years old
7. Participants with baseline screening pulse oxygen level of ≤ 92% on room air will not be eligible. If the underlying cause of hypoxia improves, they may be reevaluated.
8. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with E7 TCR T cells, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with E7 TCR T cells. These potential risks may also apply to other agents used in this study.
9. Participants with a systemic immunodeficiency including acquired deficiency such as HIV or primary immunodeficiency such as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease are ineligible. The experimental treatment being evaluated in this protocol depends on an intact immune system. Participants who have decreased immune competence may be less responsive to the treatment.
10. Participants on immunosuppressive drugs including corticosteroids unless meeting criteria outlined in Section 6.1 (Prohibited Medications).
11. Participants with potentially severe autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, or systemic lupus erythematosus are not eligible. Patients with less severe autoimmune diseases such as hypothyroidism, vitiligo, and other minor autoimmune disorders are eligible.
12. Participants with prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment is unlikely to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessments of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial. Examples include, but are not limited to:
1. Carcinoma in situ
2. Cutaneous skin cancers requiring only local excision
3. Low grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
4. Low grade prostate cancer
13. Subjects who received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to enrollment are not eligible.
14. Determination by the Principal Investigator that participation is not in the best interest of the research subject or may jeopardize the safety of the subject or integrity of the clinical trial data.
Where it's running
-
Rutgers Cancer Institute
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
RWJBarnabas Health - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Christian S Hinrichs, MD — Rutgers Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Cell Therapy Clinical Research Team
- Email: celltherapy@cinj.rutgers.edu
- Phone: 732-235-7356
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Immunotherapy using E7 TCR-T cells for HPV-related cancers
This study is testing a new immunotherapy using E7 TCR-T cells to see if it can help people with advanced HPV-related cancers like cervical and throat cancer feel better and improve their health.
-
Using SCG142 TCR-T cells to treat HPV-related cancers
This study is testing a new type of immune cell treatment called SCG142 TCR-T cells to see if it can help people with advanced cancers related to HPV.
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Using blood tests to determine treatment timing for HPV-related throat cancer
This study is testing if blood tests can help decide when to start treatment for people with HPV-related throat cancer after surgery, by checking their tumor DNA levels.
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Finding HPV DNA in the blood of people with anal or cervical cancer.
This study will test whether a blood test can find HPV DNA in people with HPV-related anal or cervical cancer before, during, and after radiation treatment.
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Screening for anal cancer in women with vulvar lesions
This study is testing if screening for anal cancer with Pap smears can help women over 40 who have vulvar lesions catch any problems early and improve their health.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.