Intralesional Influenza Vaccine for the Treatment of Stage I-IV Melanoma

Last updated: July 28, 2025
Sponsor: Carlo Contreras
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

1

Condition

Malignant Melanoma

Melanoma

Metastatic Melanoma

Treatment

Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine

Resection

Ipilimumab

Clinical Study ID

NCT04697576
OSU-20221
NCI-2020-13282
  • Ages 18-99
  • All Genders

Study Summary

This phase I trial investigates the effects of influenza vaccine in treating patients with stage I-IV melanoma. While intramuscular administration of influenza vaccine provides immunization against the influenza virus, giving influenza vaccine directly into the tumor (intralesional) may decrease the size of the injected melanoma tumor, or the extent of the melanoma within the body.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Males or females

  • 18 to 99 years of age

  • Histologically confirmed cutaneous melanoma by historical pathology report review,clinical Stage I-III (Cohort #1), or Stage IV (Cohort #2) cutaneous melanoma

  • At least one, biopsy-proven, palpable melanoma tumor deposit suitable forintralesional injection measuring ≥ 1 cm by digital caliper (with digitalphotography documentation) or ultrasound (with ultrasound image documentation)

  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-1

  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1.5 x 10^3/mm^3 (drawn at or not more than 30days prior to the screening visit)

  • Hemoglobin (Hgb) >= 9 g/dL (drawn at or not more than 30 days prior to the screeningvisit)

  • Platelet count >= 100 x 10^3/mm^3 (drawn at or not more than 30 days prior to thescreening visit)

  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5 x upper limitof normal (ULN) or =< 5 x ULN in patients with liver metastases (Cohort 2 only) (drawn at or not more than 30 days prior to the screening visit)

  • Prothrombin time =< 1.5 x ULN (drawn at or not more than 30 days prior to thescreening visit)

  • Total bilirubin =< 1.5 x ULN (unconjugated bilirubin of < 3 x ULN for patients withknown Gilbert syndrome) (drawn at or not more than 30 days prior to the screeningvisit)

  • Creatinine clearance of >= 50 ml/min by Cockcroft-Gault equation (drawn at or notmore than 30 days prior to the screening visit)

  • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to use effective contraceptivemethods from screening until at least:

  • Cohort 1: 14 days after the surgical resection for subjects in Cohort 1

  • Cohort 2:

  • Nivolumab: 5 months after the last dose of either nivolumab orintralesional Flucelvax, whichever is later

  • Pembrolizumab: 4 months after the last dose of either pembrolizumab orintralesional Flucelvax, whichever is later

  • Ipilimumab: 3 months after the last dose of either ipilimumab orintralesional Flucelvax, whichever is later

  • Relatlimab + nivolumab (marketed under the trade name Opdualag): 5 monthsafter the last dose of either Opdualag or intralesional Flucelvax,whichever is later.

  • Combination ipilimumab with other checkpoint inhibitor: Whichever islater:

  • 3 months after the last dose of either ipilimumab or intralesionalFlucelvax

  • Above-bulleted recommendation for nivolumab or pembrolizumab

  • Non-childbearing potential is defined as a woman who meets either of the followingcriteria: a) postmenopausal state defined as no menses for 12 months without analternative medical cause, or b) documented hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation,or bilateral oophorectomy

  • Effective contraception methods are defined as one of the following:

  • True abstinence, defined as refraining from heterosexual intercourse, when thisis in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject

  • Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulationmethods), declaration of abstinence for the duration of a trial, and withdrawalare not acceptable methods of contraception

  • Condoms and spermicide

  • Diaphragm and spermicide

  • Oral or implanted hormonal contraceptive

  • An intra-uterine device

  • WOCBP must have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine)

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known allergy or intolerance to influenza vaccination

  • Subjects with condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (> 10 mg daily prednisone/equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14days of study drug administration

  • Active, known or suspected autoimmune disease

  • Active brain metastasis or leptomeningeal metastasis

  • Diagnostic biopsy of ocular or mucosal melanoma

  • Any melanoma therapy within 6 months of enrollment; though prior surgical resectionis permitted

  • Incarcerated patients

  • Patients known to be HIV positive are eligible if they meet the following criteriawithin 30 days prior to randomization: stable and adequate CD4 counts (≥ 350 mm^3),and serum HIV viral load of < 25,000 IU/ml. Patients may be on or off anti-viraltherapy so long as they meet the CD4 count criteria

  • Pregnant or lactating patients

  • Patients incapable of independently providing consent

Study Design

Total Participants: 36
Treatment Group(s): 6
Primary Treatment: Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine
Phase: 1
Study Start date:
October 20, 2021
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2026

Study Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the safety and tolerability and determine the maximum tolerated dose of intralesional (quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (unadjuvanted influenza vaccine) for patients with a) resectable melanoma as monotherapy, and b) metastatic melanoma, concurrent with standard of care (single- or dual-agent) checkpoint inhibition.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate tumor dimensions of injected (Cohorts #1-2) and non-injected lesions (Cohort #2 only), by caliper or ultrasound measurement. (Clinical endpoint) II. To determine time to disease progression (local or distant). (Clinical endpoint) III. To evaluate immunohistochemistry density, cells/mm^2: CD4, CD8, PD-L1, PD1, CD56, CD20, CD45RO, FOXP3. (Tumor-based endpoint) IV. To evaluate granzyme B H-score. (Tumor-based endpoint) V. To evaluate NanoString Pan Cancer Immune Profiling Panel. (Tumor-based endpoint) VI. To evaluate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes: not identified, present (non-brisk), present (brisk), cannot be determined. (Tumor-based endpoint) VII. To evaluate degree of tumor regression (percent). (Tumor-based endpoint) VIII. To evaluate changes in micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA) expression. (Tumor-based endpoint) IX. To evaluate of flow cytometry for T-cell subset evaluation and changes in circulating microRNA. (Blood draw endpoint)

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the evidence of immunologic activation in blood and tissue specimens.

OUTLINE: This is dose-escalation study. Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 cohorts.

COHORT I: Patients receive quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine intramuscularly (IM) on day 0 and intratumorally on days 2 and 14 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo surgery on day 28.

COHORT II: Patients receive quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine IM on day 0 and intratumorally on days 2, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, and 98 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive standard of care ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or Opdualag.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for up to 1 year.

Connect with a study center

  • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Columbus, Ohio 43210
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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