Immunotherapy Targeting HPV16/18 Generates Potent Immune Responses in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer

Clinical responses with programmed death (PD-1) receptor-directed antibodies occur in about 20% of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCCa). Viral neoantigens, such as the E6/E7 proteins of HPV16/18, are attractive targets for therapeutic immunization and offer an immune activation strategy that may be complementary to PD-1 inhibition.

We report phase Ib/II safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity results of immunotherapy with MEDI0457 (DNA immunotherapy targeting HPV16/18 E6/E7 with IL12 encoding plasmids) delivered by electroporation with CELLECTRA constant current device. Twenty-two patients with locally advanced, p16⁺ HNSCCa received MEDI0457.

MEDI0457 was associated with mild injection site reactions, but no treatment-related grade 3-5 adverse events (AE) were noted. Eighteen of 21 evaluable patients showed elevated antigen-specific T-cell activity by IFNγ ELISpot, and persistent cellular responses surpassing 100 spot-forming units (SFUs)/10⁶ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were noted out to 1 year. Induction of HPV-specific CD8⁺ T cells was observed. MEDI0457 shifted the CD8⁺/FoxP3⁺ ratio in 4 of 5 post immunotherapy tumor samples and increased the number of perforin⁺ immune infiltrates in all 5 patients. One patient developed metastatic disease and was treated with anti-PD-1 therapy with a rapid and durable complete response. Flow-cytometric analyses revealed induction of HPV16-specific PD-1⁺ CD8⁺ T cells that were not found prior to MEDI0547 (0% vs. 1.8%).

These data demonstrate that MEDI0457 can generate durable HPV16/18 antigen-specific peripheral and tumor immune responses. This approach may be used as a complementary strategy to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition in HPV-associated HNSCCa to improve therapeutic outcomes.