Viraemia, immunogenicity, and survival outcomes of cytomegalovirus chimeric epitope vaccine supplemented with PF03512676 (CMVPepVax) in allogeneic haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation: randomised phase 1b trial

Ryotaro Nakamura, Corinna La Rosa, Jeffrey Longmate, Jennifer Drake, Cynthia Slape, Qiao Zhou, Melanie G Lampa, Margaret O'Donnell, Ji-Lian Cai, Len Farol, Amandeep Salhotra, David S Snyder, Ibrahim Aldoss, Stephen J Forman, Jeffrey S Miller, John A Zaia, Don J Diamond, Ryotaro Nakamura, Corinna La Rosa, Jeffrey Longmate, Jennifer Drake, Cynthia Slape, Qiao Zhou, Melanie G Lampa, Margaret O'Donnell, Ji-Lian Cai, Len Farol, Amandeep Salhotra, David S Snyder, Ibrahim Aldoss, Stephen J Forman, Jeffrey S Miller, John A Zaia, Don J Diamond

Abstract

Background: Patients seropositive for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and undergoing allogeneic haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HCT) are at risk for CMV reactivation. Stimulating viral immunity by vaccination might achieve CMV viraemia control without the need for antiviral agents. CMVPepVax is a chimeric peptide composed of a cytotoxic CD8 T-cell epitope from CMV pp65 and a tetanus T-helper epitope. It is formulated with the adjuvant PF03512676, a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist, which augments cellular immunity. We aimed to assess safety, immunogenicity, and possible clinical benefit of the CMVPepVax vaccine in patients undergoing HCT.

Methods: We did a randomised, open-label, phase 1b trial at one transplant centre in the USA. Eligible patients were CMV-seropositive, positive for HLA-A*0201, aged 18-75 years, and undergoing HCT from a matched-related or matched-unrelated donor. Patients were reassessed for eligibility on day 28 after HCT. We randomly allocated patients to either the CMVPepVax vaccine or observation, in blocks stratified by CMV donor serostatus. CMVPepVax was administered subcutaneously on days 28 and 56. The primary outcome was safety, which consisted of secondary graft failure, grade III-IV acute GVHD, non-relapse mortality by day 100, serious adverse events related to the vaccine (judged by the data and safety monitoring committee [DSMC]) grade 3-4 adverse events related to the vaccine (judged by the DSMC) within 2 weeks of vaccination, and development of double-strand (ds) DNA autoantibodies. Statistical analyses included all randomised patients and were done per-protocol. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01588015. This trial is closed to accrual and the final analysis is presented in this report.

Findings: Between Oct 31, 2012, and Nov 5, 2014, 36 eligible patients were allocated to either CMVPepVax (n=18) or observation (n=18), with no adverse effect on HCT (no secondary graft failures in either group) or cases of acute GVHD (seven patients assigned vaccine and six under observation had acute GVHD of grade 2 or less), and no unexpected adverse events. Compared with observation, better relapse-free survival was recorded in patients allocated the vaccine (seven vs one; hazard ratio [HR] 0·12, 95% CI 0·01-0·94; p=0·015). No patients had non-relapse mortality by day 100. One serious adverse event (grade 1 fever) was attributed to CMVPepVax but resolved within 48 h. Four patients assigned the vaccine had a serious adverse event, which was unrelated to the vaccine (grade 3 thrombocytopenia, grade 3 device-related infection, grade 2 nausea, and grade 1 fever), compared with nine patients under observation (grade 4 maculopapular rash, grade 3 nausea, grade 3 infection, grade 3 thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpurea, grade 2 nausea, grade 2 generalised muscle weakness, grade 2 infection, grade 1 fever, and grade 1 fatigue; p=0·16). 54 grade 3-4 adverse events were reported in patients assigned the vaccine compared with 91 in patients who were under observation (p=0·2). No patients had grade III-IV acute GVHD or developed dsDNA autoantibodies.

Interpretation: The results show safety and immunogenicity of the CMVPepVax vaccine. The prospect of substantial clinical benefits warrant testing in a phase 2 trial.

Funding: National Cancer Institute.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1. Trial profile
Figure 1. Trial profile
Figure 2. Relapse free survival
Figure 2. Relapse free survival
Kaplan-Meier estimates of RFS in VA and OA recipients, followed up to May 31, 2015. Relative hazard (Rel Haz) estimate is shown with 95% CI (0·01–0·94), and 2-sided log-rank p-value. N=number
Figure 3. Levels of pp65 495–503 -specific…
Figure 3. Levels of pp65495–503-specific CD8 T cells
Individual time courses of pp65495–503-specific CD8 T cell levels are shown with solid lines for VA patients, and dashed lines for OA patients. Pairs of boxplots show pp65495–503-specific CD8 T cell/µl in the VA (v) and OA (o), assessed using pentamer technology, and analysed by FACS Central bars show median; boxes cover central 50% of observations; whiskers extend to at most 1.5 times box length. CMVPepVax was administered on days 28 and 56 to the VA patients. All recipients who did not have CMV reactivation (17 VA patients, and 12 OA patients) were included in this plot.
Figure 4. CMV reactivation rate
Figure 4. CMV reactivation rate
Kaplan-Meier estimates of CMV reactivation rate in VA and OA recipients, followed for at least 6 months post-HCT. Relative hazard (Rel Haz) estimate is shown with 95% CI (0·02–1·1), and 2-sided log-rank p-value. N=number

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Source: PubMed

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