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Breast CancerPhase 2NCT03632941

A Study to Evaluate Concurrent VRP-HER2 Vaccination and Pembrolizumab for Patients With Breast Cancer

A Phase 2 study testing VRP-HER2 and Pembrolizumab in people with Breast Cancer and HER2+ Breast Cancer, run by Herbert Lyerly at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

In this phase II study, participants will receive the VRP-HER2 immunizations plus pembrolizumab. Subjects will be randomized into 3 arms. They will undergo a biopsy of their tumor and peripheral blood draw for immune cell analyses and be assigned to the applicable arm of the study. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Breast Cancer, HER2+ Breast Cancer
What is being tested?
VRP-HER2 and Pembrolizumab
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
8 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Mar 2019to 26 Jun 2024
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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

  • Have undergone treatment with trastuzumab plus pertuzumab for at least 3 weeks prior to initiation on this study.
  • Be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial.
  • Resolution of all toxic side effects of prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgical procedures to NCI CTCAE (version 4.03) Grade ≤ 1 (with the exception of grade 2 alopecia, grade 2 neuropathy and grade 2 fatigue);
  • Be >=18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  • Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1.
  • Be willing to provide tissue from a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion.. Subjects for whom newly-obtained samples cannot be provided may submit an archived specimen only upon agreement from the Sponsor.
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  • Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
  • Normal cardiac function defined as either a MUGA or ECHO with LVEF in normal institutional range.
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined below:
  • System Laboratory Value Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1,500 /mcL Platelets ≥100,000 / mcL Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL or ≥5.6 mmol/L without transfusion or EPO dependency
  • Serum creatinine OR Measured or calculated creatinine clearance
  • 1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) OR ≥60 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels > 1.5 X institutional ULN
  • Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN OR Direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels > 1.5 ULN AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X ULN OR≤ 5 X ULN for subjects with liver metastases Albumin >2.5 mg/dL International Normalized Ratio (INR) or Prothrombin Time (PT)
  • 1.5 X ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
  • Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) ≤1.5 X ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
  • Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
  • Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception.
  • Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.
  • Male subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of contraception.
  • Ability to return to Duke University Medical Center for adequate follow-up as required by this protocol.

Who cannot join

  • Patients in this study, may not receive cytotoxic chemotherapy, anti-estrogen therapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy in the 3 weeks before the first infusion of Pembrolizumab, during the injection period for VRP-HER2 and infusion period for Pembrolizumab or for at least 2 weeks after booster immunization with VRP-HER2 (Arm 1) or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent.
  • Patients may have received prior radiation including for brain metastases.
  • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least 3 months prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment.
  • Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment. Prior history of autoimmune thyroiditis or vitiligo is permitted.
  • Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis)
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  • Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
  • Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years.
  • Has history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy or systemic use of antimicrobials within 72 hours prior to the first study treatment
  • Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent.
  • Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
  • Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
  • Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA is detected).
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Duke University

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Phase II Randomized Study to Evaluate the Immunologic and Antitumor Activity of Concurrent VRP-HER2 Vaccination and Pembrolizumab for Patients With Advanced HER2-overexpressing Breast Cancer

In this phase II study, participants will receive the VRP-HER2 immunizations plus pembrolizumab. Subjects will be randomized into 3 arms. They will undergo a biopsy of their tumor and peripheral blood draw for immune cell analyses and be assigned to the applicable arm of the study. Arm A will consist of the the VRP-HER2 immunizations; Arm B will consist of pembrolizumab; Arm C will consist of the VRP-HER2 immunizations plus pembrolizumab.

Read the detailed description

The primary objective of this phase II study is to determine whether pembrolizumab increases the tumor infiltrating and peripheral blood immune response to the VRP-HER2 vaccine. The investigators hypothesize that HER2 specific T cell responses and anti-tumor immunity induced with HER2 vaccination will be augmented by concurrent anti-PD-1 antibody therapy.

The investigators will additionally determine whether the administration of pembrolizumab is safe in patients with recurrent or metastatic HER2+ cancers who are receiving the anti-HER2 vaccine VRP-HER2.

Participants will be randomized 1:1:1 into 3 arms (n=12 per arm). Subjects with metastatic HER2 overexpressing breast cancer receiving trastuzumab and pertuzumab will continue these antibodies. They will undergo a biopsy of their tumor and peripheral blood draw for immune cell analyses and be assigned to the applicable arm of the study. Arm A will consist of the the VRP-HER2 immunizations; Arm B will consist of pembrolizumab; Arm C will consist of the VRP-HER2 immunizations plus pembrolizumab. Tumor biopsies and peripheral blood draws will be performed following the course of immunizations.

Being tested
VRP-HER2, Pembrolizumab
Keywords
Cancer, Immunotherapy, PD-1 Antibody, HER2, T cell
Medical subject headings
Breast Neoplasms, Neoplasms

What participants receive

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

  • VRP-HER2Biological

    Also called AVX901

    VRP (alphavirus-like replicon particles) containing self amplifying replicon RNA for HER2

  • PembrolizumabBiological

    Also called Keytruda

    A humanized antibody specific for the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor.

Study groups in NCT03632941
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
VRP-HER2 VaccineActive comparatorVRP-HER2 Vaccine 4 x 10EE8 IU given as a single injection every 2 weeks for 3 injections total (Cycle 1: Day 1 and Day 15 Cycle 2: Day 8)
Receives: Biological: VRP-HER2
PembrolizumabActive comparator5 administrations of Pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks for 5 total IV infusions (Day 1 of each 3 week cycle x 5 cycles)
Receives: Biological: Pembrolizumab
VRP-HER2 Vaccine + PembrolizumabExperimentalVRP-HER2 Vaccine 4 x 10EE8 IU given as a single injection every 2 weeks for 3 injections total (Cycle 1: Day 1 and Day 15 Cycle 2: Day 8)+ 5 administrations of Pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks for 5 total IV infusions (Day 1 of each 3 week cycle x 5 cycles)
Receives: Biological: VRP-HER2; Biological: Pembrolizumab

What is being measured

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

  1. Number of Participants With a Positive T Cell Response Based on ELISpot Results

    The enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay is a quantitative method that measures the frequency of cytokine secretion in a single cell.

    Measured: up to approximately 15 weeks

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Number of Participants With a Severe Adverse Event as Assessed by CTCAE v5.0

    Adverse events are graded on a scale from 1 to 5. Grade 1 adverse events are mild and generally not bothersome. Grade 2 events are bothersome and may interfere with doing some activities but are not dangerous. Grade 3 events are serious and interfere with a person's ability to do basic things like eat or get dressed. Grade 3 events may also require medical intervention. Grade 4 events are usually severe enough to require hospitalization. Grade 5 events are fatal. Reported here is the number of participants with a grade 3 adverse event.

    Measured: up to approximately 15 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted16 Aug 2018
  2. Study start1 Mar 2019
  3. Primary completion3 Sep 2023
  4. Study completion26 Jun 2024

Why it stopped: Enrollment issue

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 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
8 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03632941
Sponsor's protocol ID
Pro00100093
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
9 Aug 2018
Last updated
4 Jun 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Crosby EJ, Acharya CR, Haddad AF, Rabiola CA, Lei G, Wei JP, Yang XY, Wang T, Liu CX, Wagner KU, Muller WJ, Chodosh LA, Broadwater G, Hyslop T, Shepherd JH, Hollern DP, He X, Perou CM, Chai S, Ashby BK, Vincent BG, Snyder JC, Force J, Morse MA, Lyerly HK, Hartman ZC. Stimulation of Oncogene-Specific Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells through Combined Vaccine and alphaPD-1 Enable Sustained Antitumor Responses against Established HER2 Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Sep 1;26(17):4670-4681. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-0389. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

    PubMed 32732224

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing VRP-HER2 and Pembrolizumab in people with Breast Cancer and HER2+ Breast Cancer, run by Herbert Lyerly 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 20 inclusion and 20 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: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 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 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

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

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 11 Dec 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Number of Participants With a Positive T Cell Response Based on ELISpot Results (time frame: up to approximately 15 weeks). 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 NCT03632941, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 4 Jun 2026.

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