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Follicular LymphomaPhase 1NCT03361852

Personalized Neoantigen Cancer Vaccine + Pembrolizumab After Rituximab for Follicular Lymphoma

A Phase 1 study testing Rituximab, Neo Vax and Pembrolizumab in people with Follicular Lymphoma, run by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This research study is studying a novel type of FL vaccine as a possible treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL). The agents involved in this study are: Rituximab Personalized NeoAntigen vaccine Poly-ICLC Pembrolizumab Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Follicular Lymphoma
What is being tested?
Rituximab, Neo Vax and Pembrolizumab
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
14 Mar 2022to 26 Dec 2033
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of grade I-IIIA follicular lymphoma (pathology must be confirmed at DFCI/BWH)
  • Planned treatment with 4 weekly doses of rituximab.
  • No prior systemic therapy for follicular lymphoma; prior radiation with palliative or curative intent is allowed if radiation occurred more than 3 months prior to study entry
  • Patient must have measurable disease by Cheson criteria
  • Age ≥ 18 years.
  • ECOG performance status < 2.
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  • Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:
  • Hemoglobin > 9 gm/dl (ESAs or transfusion are not allowed) [greater than 8 gm/dl if there is lymphoma involvement of the bone marrow]
  • ANC > 1000 (greater than 750 if there is lymphoma involvement of the bone marrow)
  • Platelet count >100,000 (greater than 50,000 if there is lymphoma involvement of the bone marrow]
  • International normalized ratio (INR) or prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) < 1.5 x ULN unless subject is on anticoagulation as long as PT or aPTT is within intended therapeutic range of anticoagulant used
  • AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤2.5 × institutional upper limit of normal (< 5 x ULN if there are hepatic metastases)
  • Creatinine < 1.5 x ULN or measured or calculated creatinine clearance (GFR can also be used in place of creatinine clearance) > 30 ml/min for subject with creatinine > 1.5 x institutional ULN
  • total bilirubin less than institutional 1.5 x ULN (or a direct bilirubin < ULN if total bilirubin is >1.5 x ULN)
  • The effects of NeoVax and poly-ICLC on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative pregnancy test (serum) before entry onto the trial and within 7 days prior to start of study vaccination.
  • Female patients enrolled in the study, who are not free from menses for >2 years, post hysterectomy / oophorectomy, or surgically sterilized, must be willing to use either 2 adequate barrier methods or a barrier method plus a hormonal method of contraception to prevent pregnancy or to abstain from sexual activity throughout the study, starting with visit 1 through 4 weeks after the last dose of study therapy. Approved contraceptive methods include for example; intra uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide, cervical cap with spermicide, male condoms, or female condom with spermicide. Spermicides alone are not an acceptable method of contraception. Male participants need to agree to use an adequate method of contraception
  • Patient is agreeable to allow tumor (from peripheral blood, lymph node, or effusion) and normal tissue (from saliva) samples to be submitted for complete exome and transcriptome sequencing.
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
  • Additional Inclusion Criteria for Treatment Registration
  • Participants must meet the following criteria (in addition to the above) to be eligible to proceed to receive vaccine treatment on the study:
  • At least 7 immunizing peptides can be designed
  • Continue to meet inclusion and exclusion criteria for Screening Registration (note: hepatitis B and hepatitis C serologies do not need to be repeated unless there is a clinical concern that an exposure has occurred since the screening phase).
  • Achieved a CR, PR, or SD with no residual mass greater than 5 cm per Lugano criteria following single agent rituximab per

Who cannot join

  • Recovered from all AEs due to rituximab to ≤Grade 1 or baseline. Participants with ≤Grade 2 neuropathy may be eligible. Note: If participant received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting study treatment
  • Prior systemic therapy for follicular lymphoma with the exception of 4 weekly doses of rituximab as proscribed per protocol
  • Radiation with palliative or curative intent within 90 days of study screening
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (eg, CTLA-4, OX-40, CD137).
  • Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.
  • Previous bone marrow or stem cell transplant
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  • Concomitant therapy with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory agents; chronic use of systemic corticosteroids at doses of 10 mg of prednisone (or equivalent) for indications other than treatment of follicular lymphoma is acceptable. Use of higher doses of corticosteroids after initial registration is acceptable if tapered to 10 mg of prednisone (or equivalent) or les at least 7 days prior to NeoVax administration so long as the corticosteroids were not administered for follicular lymphoma.
  • Use of a non-oncology vaccine therapy for prevention of infectious diseases within 2 weeks prior to any NeoVax administration.
  • History of severe allergic reactions attributed to any vaccine therapy for the prevention of infectious diseases.
  • Active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease or immunosuppressive conditions with the exception of vitiligo, type 1 diabetes, residual autoimmune-related hypothyroidism requiring hormone replacement, or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment.
  • Progressive disease or stable disease with residual tumor mass > 5 cm by CT scan (measured as long axis) following 4 weekly doses of rituximab (for treatment phase only).
  • Any documented transformation to diffuse large B cell lymphoma or grade 3Bfollicular lymphoma.
  • Currently requiring chronic intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG)
  • Active infection with hepatitis B or C (see Study Calendar in Section 10 for screening assays).
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia.
  • Any underlying medical condition, psychiatric condition or social situation that in the opinion of the investigator would compromise study administration as per protocol or compromise the assessment of AEs.
  • Pregnant women are excluded from this study because personalized neoantigen peptides and poly-ICLC are agents with unknown risks to the developing fetus. Because there is an unknown but potential risk of adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with personalized neoantigen peptides and poly-ICLC, nursing women are excluded from this study.
  • Individuals with history of an invasive malignancy are ineligible except for the following circumstances: a) individuals with a history of invasive malignancy are eligible if they have been disease -free for at least 3 years and are deemed by the investigator to be at low risk for recurrence of that malignancy; b) individuals with the following cancers are eligible if diagnosed and treated: carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity or cervix and basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; c) individuals with prostate cancer managed with active surveillance that is not expected to limit their survival to <10 years.
  • Participants with known CNS involvement
  • History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to poly-ICLC.
  • HIV-positive participants including those on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible because assessment of immunologic endpoints may be confounded by HIV-induced alterations in patient immune status and functio

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

  • Dana Farber Cancer Institute

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Pilot Study of a Personalized Neoantigen Cancer Vaccine in Combination With Pembrolizumab Following Front-Line Rituximab in Follicular Lymphoma

This research study is studying a novel type of FL vaccine as a possible treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL).

The agents involved in this study are:

  • Rituximab
  • Personalized NeoAntigen vaccine
  • Poly-ICLC
  • Pembrolizumab
Read the detailed description

This research study is a Pilot Study, which is the first time investigators are examining the Personalized Neoantigen Vaccine (NeoVax) in patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. The FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has not approved the Personalized Neoantigen Vaccine as a treatment for any disease.

Patients will receive 4 weekly doses rituximab (a CD20 monoclonal antibody) during NeoVax manufacturing (see below). Patients who have stable disease or achieve a response with rituximab therapy will next receiving NeoVax alone (first 5 patients) or NeoVax in combination with pembrolizumab (a PD-1 monoclonal antibody).

The purpose of this study is to determine if it is possible to make and safely administer a vaccine against FL by using information gained from specific genetic characteristics of the participant's own FL cells. The investigators plan to analyze the specific genetic characteristics of the participant's own FL cells and use that information to produce proteins that may help the participant's immune system recognize and fight FL cells.

This vaccine has already been tested in clinical trials in patients with advanced melanoma (a type of skin cancer) and glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer). The current study will examine the ability of the vaccine to stimulate the participant's immune system when given at several different timepoints, and will examine the participant's blood cells for signs that the FL has changed or decreased.

FL cells will be obtained from a tumor biopsy. The genetic material contained in the FL cells will be examined for the presence of tumor-specific mutations. This information will be used to prepare small protein fragments, which are called "peptides." The vaccine will consist of up to 20 of these peptides as well as a drug called Poly-ICLC. A peptide from the tetanus vaccine will also be included to boost the immune response.

Poly-ICLC (also called Hiltonol) is an experimental "viral mimic" and an activator of immunity. Poly-ICLC binds proteins on the surface of certain immune cells to make it appear as if a virus is present. When the cells detect the vaccine, they think it is a virus and turn on the immune system. Poly-ICLC will be mixed with NeoAntigen peptides and administered as an injection given underneath the skin. Poly-ICLC is an investigational drug, meaning the FDA has not approved it as a treatment for any disease.

Being tested
Rituximab, Neo Vax, Pembrolizumab
Keywords
Follicular Lymphoma
Medical subject headings
Lymphoma, Follicular

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • RituximabDrug

    Also called Rituxan

    Rituximab is classified as a monoclonal antibody. It works by targeting the CD20 antigen on normal and malignant B-cells. Then the body's natural immune defenses are recruited to attack and kill the marked B-cells

  • Neo VaxBiological

    Neo Vax is an experimental "viral mimic" and an activator of immunity.

  • PembrolizumabDrug

    Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets PD-1. It is a type of immunotherapy

Study groups in NCT03361852
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Neo VaxExperimental* Neo Vax is injected into up to 4 different anatomic site. * NeoVax may be administered within +/- 1 day of the scheduled administration date for days 4 and 8, * Within +/-3 days of the scheduled administration date for days 15 and 22 * Within +/-7 days of days 78 and 134. * Participants will receive Rituximab weekly x 4 weeks per institutional standard
Receives: Drug: Rituximab; Biological: Neo Vax
NeoVax and pembrolizumabExperimental* Neo Vax is injected into up to 4 different anatomic site. * NeoVax may be administered within +/- 1 day of the scheduled administration date for days 4 and 8, * Within +/-3 days of the scheduled administration date for days 15 and 22 * Within +/-7 days of days 78 and 134. * Patients will receive pembrolizumab every 3 weeks starting on day 78 * Participants will receive Rituximab weekly x 4 weeks per institutional standard
Receives: Drug: Rituximab; Biological: Neo Vax; Drug: Pembrolizumab

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility of Neovax following 4 weekly doses of rituximab assessed by the following

    The proportion of all enrolled patients for whom sequencing and analysis leads to identification of at least 7 actionable peptides to initiate vaccine production and, of the patients who generate at least 7 actionable peptides, the proportion for whom the time from sample collection to vaccine availability is less than 12 weeks.

    Measured: 2 years

Secondary outcomes (5)

  1. The proportion of participants who achieve an IFN-γ T cell response to one or more of the peptide pools

    The induction of IFN-γ T-cell response will be based on ELISPOT assessments taken prior to vaccine administration and at week 16 from both peripheral blood draws and bone marrow biopsies. The proportion of patients who achieve more than 55 SFU/106 PBMC or 3 times their baseline level will be presented with a 90% exact binomial confidence interval. Based on a cohort of size 10, the confidence interval will be no wider than 0.55. It is possible that the maximal response will occur at a different sampling time point or will vary between participants. Thus, this time point may vary from week 16.

    Measured: 2 years

  2. The proportion of participants who convert from PR to CR

    The investigators will report the proportion of patients converting from SD to CR/PR or from PR to CR based upon Lugano criteria in a descriptive fashion.

    Measured: 2 years

  3. The proportion of participants who convert from SD to PR/CR

    The investigators will report the proportion of patients converting from SD to CR/PR or from SD to PR or CR based upon Lugano criteria in a descriptive fashion.

    Measured: 2 years

  4. Best Objective Response

    The investigators will report the best objective response (CR, PR, SD, or PD) based upon Lugano criteria in a descriptive fashion.

    Measured: 2 years

  5. To describe the safety and tolerability of NeoVax following 4 weekly doses of rituximab in patient with previously untreated follicular lymphoma

    The investigators will report toxicity in a descriptive fashion using CTCAE version 4.0

    Measured: 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Dec 2017
  2. Study start14 Mar 2022
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion26 Dec 2033 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
All patients will receive 4 weekly doses of rituximab. Afterwards, will receive either NeoVax alone (first 5 patients) or NeoVax in combination with pembrolizumab (5 patients)
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
20 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03361852
Sponsor's protocol ID
17-353
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
29 Nov 2017
Last updated
25 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Rituximab, Neo Vax and Pembrolizumab in people with Follicular Lymphoma, run by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 23 inclusion and 21 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility of Neovax following 4 weekly doses of rituximab assessed by the following (time frame: 2 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03361852.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Mar 2026.

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