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Neoantigen-based Personalized DNA Vaccine in Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Unmethylated Glioblastoma

A Pilot Study to Assess the Safety, Feasibility, and Immunogenicity of a Neoantigen-based Personalized in Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Unmethylated Glioblastoma

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04015700
Enrollment
9
Registered
2019-07-11
Start date
2020-07-14
Completion date
2027-09-03
Last updated
2026-05-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Glioblastoma

Brief summary

This is a single institution, open-label, single arm, study assessing the safety, feasibility, and immunogenicity of a personalized neoantigen-based vaccine in subjects with newly diagnosed, unmethylated glioblastoma.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALPersonalized neoantigen DNA vaccine supplied by Geneos Therapeutics

-The neoantigen DNA vaccines are also known as DNA plasmid vector expressing tumor-specific antigens.

DEVICECELLECTRA®2000 EP Device supplied by Geneos Therapeutics

CELLECTRA® 2000 Device is a system indicated for use to enhance the uptake and expression of plasmid-based biologics in order to enhance vaccine efficacy.

DRUGPlasmid encoded IL-12

The INO-9012 vials will be supplied by Geneos Therapeutics

Sponsors

Washington University School of Medicine
Lead SponsorOTHER
Geneos Therapeutics
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Newly diagnosed histologically confirmed MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV). Patients with secondary glioblastoma, in particular those who are IDH1 or IDH2 mutant, will not be excluded. High grade gliomas with molecular features of glioblastoma will be included. MGMT methylation status must be confirmed by standard a PCR-based assay. * Patients who had prior craniotomy with biopsy, subtotal resection, total gross resection, or re-resection will be permitted. * Consent to genome sequencing and dbGaP-based data sharing and has provided or will provide germline (PBMC) and tumor DNA/RNA samples of adequate quality for sequencing. (Acquisition of specimens for sequencing and the sequencing itself may be done as part of routine care or another research project.) * At least 18 years of age. * Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60% * Normal bone marrow and organ function as defined below: * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x IULN * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 3.0 x IULN * Creatinine ≤ IULN OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal * Systemic corticosteroid therapy is permitted provided dosing is no greater than 4 mg per day (dexamethasone or equivalent) on the day of vaccine administration. * Bevacizumab will be allowed if given for symptomatic control of vasogenic edema and to avoid high dose of corticosteroids. * Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation, including at least 5 months (for women of childbearing potential) and at least 7 months (for men) after last dose of study drug. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately. * Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document (or that of legally authorized representative, if applicable).

Exclusion criteria

* As this study aims to assess the immunogenicity of personalized neoantigen DNA vaccine plus plasmid encoded IL-12 as an adjuvant, no prior immunotherapy will be permitted. * Inadequate tissue acquisition to allow for neoantigen screening. * No candidate neoantigen identified during screening. * A history of other malignancy ≤ 3 years previous with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, any in situ cancer that has been successfully resected and cured, treated superficial bladder cancer, or any early-stage solid tumor that was successfully resected without need for adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy. * Receiving any other investigational agents within 4 weeks of beginning study treatment. * Known allergy, or history of serious adverse reaction to, vaccines such as anaphylaxis, hives, or respiratory difficulty. * A history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to any agents used in the study. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. * History of immunodeficiency disorder or autoimmune condition requiring active immunosuppressive therapy. This includes inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, systemic vasculitis, scleroderma, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, sarcoidosis, or other rheumatologic disease or any other medical condition or use of medication which might make it difficult for the patient to complete the full course of treatments or to generate an immune response to vaccines. * Presence of clinically significant increased intracranial pressure (e.g. impending herniation) or hemorrhage, uncontrolled seizures, or requirement for immediate palliative treatment. * Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days of first dose of vaccine. * Presence of acute or chronic bleeding or clotting disorder that would contraindicate IM injections * Fewer than 2 acceptable sites available for IM injection and CELLECTRA® 2000 EP considering the deltoid and anterolateral quadriceps muscles: * Tattoos, keloids, or hypertrophic scars located within 2 cm of intended administration site * Implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker (to prevent a life-threatening arrhythmia) that is located ipsilateral to the deltoid injection site (unless deemed acceptable by a cardiologist) * Any metal implants or implantable medical device within the intended treatment site (i.e. electroporation area).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Feasibility of Generating a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine for Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Unmethylated GBM as Measured by the Number of Participants Who Had Candidate Tumor-specific Neoantigens Identified4 weeks post-completion of radiotherapy (day 1 of cycle 1)The number of enrolled participants where at least one candidate tumor-specific neoantigen was identified for vaccine inclusion. Candidate neoantigen identification was done through tumor sequencing and in silico prediction algorithms prioritizing expressed (inferred by RNAseq) and presented (patient specific HLA class 1 molecule-restricted) peptides.
Feasibility of Generating a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine for Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Unmethylated GBM as Measured by the Number of Participants With a Manufactured Neoantigen-based DNA Vaccine4 weeks post-completion of radiotherapy (day 1 of cycle 1)The number of enrolled participants with identifiable candidate tumor-specific neoantigen(s) who had a personalized DNA vaccine successfully manufactured.
Feasibility of Generating a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine for Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Unmethylated GBM as Measured by the Number of Participants Who Had the First Vaccine Administered at 4 Weeks Post-completion of Radiotherapy4 weeks post-completion of radiotherapy (estimated to be day 1 of cycle 1)The number of enrolled participants with identifiable candidate tumor-specific neoantigen(s) who had a personalized DNA vaccine successfully manufactured and administered by 4 weeks post-completion of radiation therapy.
Safety and Tolerability of a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine as Measured by Number of Participants With Dose-limiting Toxicities (DLTs)Up to 30 daysA DLT will be defined as any grade 3 toxicity or greater according to CTCAE v5 considered at least possibly related to study treatment. The DLT observation period begins with Cycle 1 Day 1 (date of first vaccine administration) and continues for 30 days

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Immunogenicity of a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine as Measured by the Number of Individual Neoantigens Per Number of Neoantigens Vaccinated Against, With Which a Measurable CD8 T Cell-specific Response is IdentifiedWeek 10 following vaccination on day 1 of cycle 1CD8 T cells will be isolated from peripheral blood samples and will be stimulated with individual peptides corresponding to the patient-specific neoantigen candidates included in the respective DNA vaccine. Response will be measured by IFN gamma production via ELISPOT assay.
Number of High Quality Candidates Neoantigens Present in Participants With Newly Diagnosed GBM4 weeks post-completion of radiotherapy (day 1 of cycle 1)-High quality neoantigens will be defined as those that meet criteria for inclusion in a vaccine
The Percentage of Participants Who Did Not Progress or Expire by 6 Months From Time of Diagnosis6 months-Progression is defined as any of the following * ≥ 25% increase in sum products of perpendicular diameters of enhancing lesions compared with the smallest tumor measurement obtained either at baseline or best response, on stable or increasing doses of corticosteroids\*. The absolute increase in any dimension must be at least 5mm when calculating the products. * Significant increase in T2/FLAIR nonenhancing lesion on stable/increasing doses of corticosteroids compared with baseline scan or best response after initiation of therapy\* not caused by comorbid events * New measurable lesion. * Clear clinical deterioration not attributable to other causes apart from the tumor (e.g. seizures, medication adverse effects, complications of therapy, cerebrovascular events, infection, and so on) or changes in corticosteroid dose.
The Percentage of Participants Who Did Not Expire by 12 Months From Time of Diagnosis12 months
Immunogenicity of a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine as Measured by the Number of Participants That Had the T-cell Phenotype, Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cell Frequency by Flow Cytometry Analysis PerformedUp to week 24 post-vaccination (day 1 of cycle 1)
Immunogenicity of a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine as Measured by the Number of Participants That Had the Diversity of Clonality From T Cell Receptor Sequencing Analysis PerformedUp to week 24 post-vaccination (day 1 of cycle 1)Measured by the number of patients that the analysis was able to be performed.
Immunogenicity of a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine as Measured by Putative Antigen Specificity From T Cell Receptor SequencingUp to week 24 post-vaccination (day 1 of cycle 1)
Immunogenicity of a Personalized Neoantigen DNA Vaccine as Measured by the Number of Participants With a Measurable Neoantigen-specific CD8 T Cell ResponseWeek 10 following vaccination on day 1 of cycle 1CD8 T cells will be isolated from peripheral blood samples and will be stimulated with pooled peptides corresponding to the patient-specific neoantigen candidates included in the respective DNA vaccine. Response will be measured by IFN gamma production via ELISPOT assay.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORTanner M Johanns, M.D., Ph.D.

Washington University School of Medicine

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic
Age, Continuous62 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
9 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
9 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
6 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
8 / 9
other
Total, other adverse events
9 / 9
serious
Total, serious adverse events
6 / 9

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 14, 2026