Avelumab With Valproic Acid in Virus-associated Cancer (NCT03357757) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 2
Avelumab With Valproic Acid in Virus-associated Cancer
Canada39 participantsStarted 2018-02-07
Plain-language summary
Up to 20% of all cancers may be associated with a bacterial or viral infection. In some instances, the infection may be one of the reasons why the cancer developed in the first place. One such example is infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) and the development of cervical or oral cavity cancer.
A viral infection that is chronic may not cause a person symptoms, and may be able to escape detection by a person's own immune system. One of the medications being studied in this clinical trial (Valproic acid) may be able to unmask a chronic viral infection from a person's own immune system, therefore making the virus susceptible to attack by the immune system. In this study Valproic acid is being combined with an immune therapy, Avelumab. Avelumab is an antibody that targets a person's own immune cells, or lymphocytes. Lymphocytes must be activated to fight infections or cancer, but after activation they are deactivated. Avelumab prevents the deactivation of a lymphocyte, in effect "turning off the off-switch." This leads to a re-energizing of a person's immune system, hopefully leading to an attack by the immune system on a person's cancer.
Avelumab is known to be an effective treatment for a variety of cancers, although it has not yet been tested in all cancers. By combining Valproic acid, a treatment which targets the virus that contributed to the development of this type of cancer with Avelumab the investigators hope to enhance the ability of Avelumab to restore the body's own immune defense against the cancer.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients must be 18 years of age or older.
* Patients with the following histologically confirmed diagnoses will be eligible for enrolment: p16 positive SCCHN; squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina or vulva; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis; p16 positive squamous cell carcinoma of the anus or anal canal; EBER positive NPC; EBER positive Hodgkins and non-hodgkins lymphoma.
* Note: patients with p16 positive SCC of unknown primary origin meeting the minimum life expectancy and performance status requirements will also be eligible for enrollment, as the majority of these patients may be assumed to represent HPV-associated disease.
* Patients must be capable of providing consent to enrolment and treatment.
* Patients with a performance status of ECOG 0-1(51) will be eligible for enrolment (see appendix 1).
* Measurable disease must be present according to irRECIST criteria(50).
* Women of child bearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum (or urine) pregnancy test at the time of screening.
* Patients of childbearing / reproductive potential should use highly effective birth control methods, as defined by the investigator, during the study treatment period and for a period of 60 days after the last dose of study drug. A highly effective method of birth control is defined as those that result in low failure rate (i.e. less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly.
* Not…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Efficacy of Avelumab and VPA
Timeframe: 1 year after enrolment of last patient
2
Proportion of subjects who complete 4 doses of Avelumab in combination with VPA