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Castration-resistant Prostate CancerPhase 2NCT04090528

pTVG-HP DNA Vaccine With or Without pTVG-AR DNA Vaccine and Pembrolizumab in Patients With Castration-Resistant, Metastatic Prostate Cancer

A Phase 2 study testing pTVG-HP, pTVG-AR and Pembrolizumab in people with Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer and Metastatic Cancer, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 2 sites 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 trial will evaluate the use of one versus two DNA vaccines, delivered concurrently with PD-1 blockade using pembrolizumab followed by treatment with pembrolizumab alone, and delivered over a prolonged period of time (for a maximum of 2 years (32 cycles) or until radiographic progression) on the treatment of… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, men only
What is being tested?
pTVG-HP, pTVG-AR and Pembrolizumab
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
21 Oct 2019to Mar 2027
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
  • Men only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Histologically confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer (adenocarcinoma of the prostate)
  • Metastatic disease as evidenced by the presence of soft tissue and/or bone metastases on imaging studies (CT of abdomen/pelvis, bone scintigraphy)
  • Castrate-resistant disease, defined as follows:
  • All participants must have received (and be receiving) standard of care androgen deprivation treatment (surgical castration versus GnRH analogue or antagonist treatment); subjects receiving Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue or antagonist must continue this treatment throughout the time on this study.
  • Participants may or may not have been treated previously with a nonsteroidal antiandrogen. For participants previously treated with an antiandrogen, they must be off use of anti-androgen for at least 28 days before day 1 (for flutamide, apalutamide, enzalutamide, or other 2nd generation AR antagonists) or 6 weeks (for bicalutamide or nilutamide) prior to registration. Moreover, participants who demonstrate an anti-androgen withdrawal response, defined as a > 25% decline in PSA within 4-6 week of stopping a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, are not eligible until the PSA rises above the nadir observed after antiandrogen withdrawal.
  • Participants must have a castrate serum level of testosterone (< 50 ng/dL) within 6 weeks of day 1
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  • Progressive disease while receiving androgen deprivation therapy defined by any one of the following as per the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group 3 (PCWG3) bone scan criteria or RECIST 1.1 during or after completing last therapy:
  • PSA: At least two consecutive rises in serum PSA, obtained at a minimum of 1-week intervals, with the final value > 2.0 ng/mL.
  • Measurable disease: > 50% increase in the sum of the cross products of all measurable lesions or the development of new measurable lesions. The short axis of a target lymph node must be at least 15 mm by spiral CT to be considered a target lesion
  • Non-measurable (bone) disease: The appearance of two or more new areas of uptake on bone scan (or Sodium Fluoride (NaF) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT)) consistent with metastatic disease compared to previous imaging during castration therapy. The increased uptake of pre-existing lesions on bone scan will not be taken to constitute progression, and ambiguous results must be confirmed by other imaging modalities (e.g. X-ray, CT or MRI).
  • Prior treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide is permitted, but participants must have weaned to a daily corticosteroid dose equivalent of no more than 5 mg prednisone daily for at least 28 days prior to day 1.
  • Life expectancy of at least 6 months
  • Participants must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2.
  • Adequate hematologic, renal, liver, and coagulation function as evidenced by the following within 6 weeks of day 1:
  • White Blood Cells (WBC) >/= 2000 / mm3
  • Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) >/= 1500 / mm3
  • Hemoglobin (HgB) >/= 9.0 gm/dL (Participants must not have received a blood transfusion within 14 days)
  • Platelets >/= 100,000 / mm3
  • Creatinine </= 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • Total bilirubin </= 1.5 x institutional ULN OR direct bilirubin </= ULN for participants with total bilirubin levels > 1.5 x ULN
  • Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) </= 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
  • Prothrombin Time (PT) or International Normalized Ratio (INR) </= 1.5 x ULN unless participant is receiving anticoagulant therapy and PT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulant (only required for participants receiving biopsy)
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) </= 1.5 x ULN unless participant is receiving anticoagulant therapy and a PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulant (only required for participants receiving biopsy)
  • No known history of human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV 1 and 2), Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), or active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
  • Participants must be at least 4 weeks from any prior treatments and have recovered (to < Grade 2) from acute toxicity attributed to this prior treatment, unless considered chronic
  • A subset of participants (6 participants per treatment arm) treated at the lead University of Wisconsin (UW) site must be willing and able (in the opinion of the treating physician) to undergo two research biopsies for the investigational component of this trial.
  • A subset of participants (6 participants per treatment arm) treated at the lead UW site must be willing to undergo NaF PET/CT scans for the investigational component of this trial.
  • For those participants who are sexually active, they must be willing to use barrier contraceptive methods, and refrain from donating sperm, during the period of treatment on this trial and for four weeks after the last DNA immunization treatment
  • Participants must be informed of the experimental nature of the study and its potential risks, and must sign an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved written informed consent form indicating such an understanding

Who cannot join

  • Small cell or other variant (non-adenocarcinoma) prostate cancer histology, unless there is evidence that the tumor expresses PAP
  • Participants may not be receiving other investigational agents or be receiving concurrent anticancer therapy other than standard androgen deprivation therapy
  • Concurrent bisphosphonate therapy is not excluded, however participants should not start bisphosphonate therapy while on this study; those participants already receiving bisphosphonate therapy should continue at the same dosing and schedule as prior to study entry
  • Rapidly progressive symptomatic metastatic disease, as defined by the need for increased opioid analgesics within one month of registration for the treatment of pain attributed to a prostate cancer metastatic lesion; participants receiving opioids must receive approval from the PI for eligibility
  • Treatment with any of the following medications within 28 days of day 1, or while on study, is prohibited:
  • Systemic corticosteroids (at doses over the equivalent of 5 mg prednisone daily); inhaled, intranasal or topical corticosteroids are acceptable
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  • Prostate Cancer and spes (PC-SPES)
  • Megestrol
  • Ketoconazole
  • 5-α-reductase inhibitors - participants already taking 5-α-reductase inhibitors prior to 28 days prior to registration may stay on these agents throughout the course of therapy, but these should not be started while participants are on study
  • Diethyl stilbesterol
  • Abiraterone
  • Enzalutamide
  • Apalutamide
  • Radium 223 (Xofigo®)
  • Any other hormonal agent or supplement being used with the intent of cancer treatment must be reviewed by the PI for eligibility
  • External beam radiation therapy within 4 weeks of registration is prohibited, or anticipated need for radiation therapy (e.g. imminent pathological fracture or spinal cord compression) within 3 months of registration. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities and not have had radiation pneumonitis.
  • Major surgery within 4 weeks of registration is prohibited
  • Prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (for example, but not limited to, docetaxel, mitoxantrone, cabazitaxel) within 28 days of registration is prohibited
  • Prior treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent, or with any agent directed to another T-cell stimulatory or inhibitory receptor (e.g. CTLA-4, OX-40, CD137).
  • Participants with a history of life-threatening autoimmune disease
  • Participants with a history of non-infectious pneumonitis that required corticosteroid treatment, or has current pneumonitis
  • Participants with a history of allergic reactions to the tetanus vaccine
  • Participants who have undergone splenectomy or who have a diagnosis of immunodeficiency
  • Participants must not have other active malignancies other than non-melanoma skin cancers or superficial (non-muscle-invasive) carcinoma of the bladder. Participants with a history of other cancers who have been adequately treated and have been recurrence-free for > 3 years are eligible.
  • Participants with known brain metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
  • Participants who have received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette - Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
  • Any antibiotic therapy within 1 month of day 1, or anticipated need for antibiotic therapy within 1 month of beginning treatment
  • Participants with active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • Any other medical intervention or condition, which, in the opinion of the PI or treating physician, could compromise participant safety or adherence with the study requirements (including biopsies), or confound results of the study, over the treatment period.
  • Any known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirement of the trial.
  • Participants cannot have concurrent enrollment on other phase I, II, or III investigational treatment studies.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites

  • University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

    Madison, Wisconsin, 53705

  • Washington University Siteman Cancer Center

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Phase II Trial of pTVG-HP DNA Vaccine With or Without pTVG-AR DNA Vaccine and Pembrolizumab in Patients With Castration-Resistant, Metastatic Prostate Cancer

This trial will evaluate the use of one versus two DNA vaccines, delivered concurrently with PD-1 blockade using pembrolizumab followed by treatment with pembrolizumab alone, and delivered over a prolonged period of time (for a maximum of 2 years (32 cycles) or until radiographic progression) on the treatment of castrate-resistant, metastatic prostate cancer. The hypothesis to be tested is that delivering two vaccines with PD-1 blockade will elicit a greater frequency and magnitude of tumor-directed CD8+ T cells, and thereby increase the percentage of patients experiencing objective anti-tumor effect as measured by PSA declines and/or objective radiographic responses. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and can expect to be on treatment for 2 years (32 cycles) and on study for up to 7 years (including 5 years of follow up via phone).

Being tested
pTVG-HP, pTVG-AR, Pembrolizumab
Keywords
immunotherapy, prostate cancer, vaccine, DNA vaccine, pTVG-HP, pTVG-AR, androgen receptor, prostatic acid phosphatase, pembrolizumab
Medical subject headings
Neoplasm Metastasis, Prostatic Neoplasms, Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked

What participants receive

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

  • pTVG-HPBiological

    pTVG-HP is a plasmid DNA, produced in E. coli, that encodes the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) for human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP).

  • pTVG-ARBiological

    pTVG-AR is a plasmid DNA

  • PembrolizumabDrug

    Also called Keytruda

    Pembrolizumab is a human programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with multiple different types of cancer.

Study groups in NCT04090528
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm 1: One DNA vaccineExperimental100 µg pTVG-HP administered intradermally (i.d.) days 1, 8 plus 200 mg Pembrolizumab, administered intravenously on day 1 of 21-day cycles (for 8 cycles) Following cycle 8, subsequent 21-days cycles: Pembrolizumab 200 mg IV day 1 of 21-day cycles In the event of PSA rise (25% increase over cycle 9 day 1, minimum of 2 ng/ml), and no evidence of radiographic progression, participants will receive 4 additional vaccine booster cycles: 100 µg pTVG-HP i.d. days 1, 8 + 200 mg pembrolizumab IV day 1 of 21-day cycles x 4 cycles
Receives: Biological: pTVG-HP; Drug: Pembrolizumab
Arm 2: Two DNA vaccinesExperimental100 µg pTVG-AR administered intradermally (i.d.) on days 1, 8 plus 200 mg Pembrolizumab administered intravenously day 1 of 21-day cycles, for cycles 1, 2, 5, and 6 alternating with 100 µg pTVG-HP administered intradermally (i.d.) on days 1, 8 plus 200 mg Pembrolizumab administered intravenously day 1 of 21-day cycles, for cycles 3, 4, 7, and 8. Following cycle 8, subsequent 21-days cycles: Pembrolizumab 200 mg IV day 1 of 21-day cycles In the event of PSA rise (25% increase over cycle 9 day 1, minimum of 2 ng/ml), and no evidence of radiographic progression, participants will receive 4 additional vaccine booster cycles: 100 µg pTVG-AR i.d days 1, 8 + 200 mg pembrolizumab IV day 1 of q 21-day cycles, for cycles 1 and 2 followed by 100 µg pTVG-HP i.d. days 1, 8 + 200 mg pembrolizumab IV day 1 in 21-day cycles, for cycles 3 and 4
Receives: Biological: pTVG-HP; Biological: pTVG-AR; Drug: Pembrolizumab

What is being measured

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

  1. Progression-Free Survival (PFS)

    The expected 6-months PFS rate in Arm 1 (pTVG-HP DNA vaccine and Pembrolizumab) in this participant population is 20-30%. It is hypothesized that adding pTVG-AR DNA vaccine (Arm 2) will increase the 6-months PFS rate to at least 55%.

    The 6-month PFS rate will be calculated for each study arm along with the corresponding two-sided 95% confidence interval which will be constructed using the Wilson score method. Participants who withdraw from the study without a progression or death event before the 6-month assessment will be excluded from this analysis. The stratified (by randomization strata) Mantel-Haenszel test will be used to compare the 6-months PFS rates between study arms.

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (7)

  1. Overall Objective Response Rate

    The number of responses will be summarized in tabular format, stratified by study arm. Of note, objective response rate using radiographic criteria will apply only to subjects with RECIST measurable disease (i.e. not subjects with bone-only metastatic disease). Response rates will be calculated for each study arm along with the corresponding two-sided 95% confidence interval which will be constructed using the Wilson score method. The stratified (by randomization strata) Mantel-Haenszel test will be used to compare the overall objective response rates between study arms

    Measured: up to 2 years

  2. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Response Rate

    The number of responses will be summarized in tabular format, stratified by study arm. PSA Response Rates will be calculated for each study arm along with the corresponding two-sided 95% confidence interval which will be constructed using the Wilson score method.

    Measured: Up to 2 years

  3. Median Radiographic Progression-Free Survival

    Progression-Free Survival will be analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Median PFS will be calculated for each study arm and reported along with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals will which will constructed using the nonparametric Brookmeyer and Crowley method. The stratified (by randomization strata) log-rank test will be used to compare PFS between study arms.

    Measured: up to 2 years

  4. Median Duration of PSA and Objective Response

    Duration of PSA and objective response will be analyzed using the Kaplan-Maier method. The median duration of PSA and objective response will be calculated and report along with the corresponding 95% confidence interval which will be constructed using the nonparametric Brookmeyer-Crowley method.

    Measured: up to 2 years

  5. Overall Survival (OS)

    Overall Survival will be analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. OS will be calculated for each study arm and reported along with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals will which will constructed using the nonparametric Brookmeyer and Crowley method. The stratified (by randomization strata) log-rank test will be used to compare OS between study arms.

    Measured: up to 2 years

  6. Antigen-Specific Th1 Immune Response

    The number and frequencies of antigen-specific Th1 immune responses will be summarized in tabular format for each study arm and both study arms combined. A generalized linear model with a logit link function will be used to evaluate whether antigen-specific Th1 immunity elicited with treatment to either antigen (PAP or AR) is associated with PSA response. The interaction term between treatment arm and antigen-specific Th1 immune will be included in this model.

    Measured: up to 2 years

  7. Safety and Tolerability: Toxicity Rates

    Participants will be evaluated at each visit by a review of systems based on the most recent version of the NCI common toxicity criteria. Toxicities will be summarized by type and severity in tabular format. Toxicity rates (grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade ≥ 2, grade ≥ 3, etc.) will be calculated for each study arm and reported along the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. The 95% confidence intervals will be constructed using the Wilson score method. Fisher's exact test wi be used to compare toxicity rates between study arms.

    Measured: up to 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 posted16 Sep 2019
  2. Study start21 Oct 2019
  3. Primary completion24 Nov 2024
  4. Study completionMar 2027 (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 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
1:1 randomized, open-label, multi-institution phase II trial
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
60 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04090528
Sponsor's protocol ID
2018-0938
Other IDs
UW18037, SMPH/MEDICINE/HEM-ONC, A534260, NCI-2019-07273, Protocol Version 2/10/2025
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
12 Sep 2019
Last updated
26 Aug 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Kyriakopoulos CE, Pachynski RK, Eickhoff JC, Tonelli TP, Jeon D, McNeel DG. Phase 2 trial of pTVG-HP +/- pTVG-AR DNA vaccines and pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). J Immunother Cancer. 2026 Apr 24;14(4):e014323. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2025-014323.

    PubMed 42031429

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing pTVG-HP, pTVG-AR and Pembrolizumab in people with Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer and Metastatic Cancer, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 2 sites 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 29 inclusion and 32 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 26 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites 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 5 Dec 2025). 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?

Progression-Free Survival (PFS) (time frame: 6 months). 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 NCT04090528, 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 26 Aug 2026.

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