Peptide Vaccine for Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients and Other Tumor Entities Carrying the Driver Fusion DNAJB1-PRKACA

Last updated: February 9, 2026
Sponsor: University Hospital Tuebingen
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

1

Condition

Carcinoma

Treatment

Vaccination of Fusion-VAC-XS15

Clinical Study ID

NCT06789198
FusionVAC22_02
2024-519387-41-00
  • Ages > 12
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the immunogenicity along with safety and toxicity as well as first efficacy of a DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript-based peptide vaccine (Fusion-VAC-XS15) in patients with FL-HCC or other cancer entities carrying the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript as adjuvant treatment

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

  • Histologically confirmed Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) or othermalignant disease in an adjuvant setting, defined as:

  • Presence of DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript, assessed by RNA-based NGS orRT-PCR

  • Achievement of complete remission (CR) according to RECIST1.1 by any of thefollowing therapeutic measures:

  • surgical procedures,

  • radiotherapy,

  • local therapeutic measures (e.g. TACE, SIRT, etc.)

  • systemic treatment (e.g. chemotherapy)

  • Age ≥ 12 years. Note: Subjects aged ≥ 12 years but < 18 are eligible to enroll onlyafter 6 adult patients have been enrolled in the study.

  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2.

  • Adequate laboratory values for

  • Absolute Lymphocyte Count > 500 /µl

  • Platelets > 50.000 /µl

  • Creatinine clearance GFR > 30 ml/min

  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 5 times upper limitrange

  • Bilirubin ≤ 3 mg/dl

  • Negative serological hepatitis B test or negative PCR in case of positiveserological test without evidence of an active infection, negative testing ofhepatitis C RNA, negative HIV test within 6 weeks prior to study inclusion.

  • Female patients of child bearing potential (FCBP) and male patients with partners ofchild bearing potential who are sexually active must agree to the use of twoeffective forms (at least one highly effective method) of contraception. This shouldbe started from the signing of the informed consent and be continued until 3 months (both female and male patients) after last dose of the vaccination

  • For FCBP two negative pregnancy tests (sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL) prior tofirst application of the study drug (vaccination at visit V1), one at screening andthe other one at visit V1 prior (< 24h) to first vaccination.

  • Postmenopausal or evidence of non-child-bearing status.

  • Be willing to minimize blood and body fluid exposure after vaccination until end ofstudy

  • Refrain from sperm or ovary egg donation

  • Refrain from blood donation

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding.

  • Unwilling or unable to follow the study schedule for any reason.

  • Concurrent or previous treatment within 14 days in another interventional clinicaltrial with an investigational anti-cancer treatment.

  • Concurrent treatment with any of the following therapeutic measures:

  • surgical procedures,

  • radiotherapy,

  • local therapeutic measures (e.g. TACE, SIRT, etc.)

  • systemic treatment (e.g. chemotherapy)

  • Concurrent or previous treatment within 6 months with an anti-cancer vaccinetreatment.

  • Any live vaccine therapy used for prevention of infectious diseases within 28 daysof study treatment

  • Known sensitivity to or history of allergic reactions to investigational drug.

  • Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years,or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome thatrequires systemic steroids (> 10 mg per day) or immunosuppressive agents (Pleasenote, patients after liver transplantation requiring immunosupressants are allowed).

  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, uncontrolledinfection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina, cardiacarrhythmia, metastatic cancer, or psychiatric illness/social situations that wouldlimit compliance with study requirements.

Study Design

Total Participants: 20
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Vaccination of Fusion-VAC-XS15
Phase: 1
Study Start date:
July 08, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
November 30, 2028

Study Description

To date, beyond surgery, there are no approved drugs and no standard of care for the treatment of FLC patients. Relapse rates after remission inducing therapies (surgery, radiation, liver transplant, systemic therapy approaches) are very high. With FusionVAC-XS15 the sponsor aims to activate the immune system specifically against the gene fusion to eradicate remaining tumor cells to improve disease remission and finally enable long-term disease-free survival.

Patients with confirmed diagnosis of FL-HCC or other cancer entities carrying the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion transcript and fulfilling the below outlined inclusion criteria will be enrolled into the clinical trial. The trial population will consist of both genders. Gender distribution in the trial is supposed to reflect the distribution in the real patient population; there will be no a priori defined quantitative ratio between females and males. FusionVAC-22 peptide will be administered subcutaneously (s.c.) with the TLR1/2 ligand XS15 (50 µg) emulsified in Montanide ISA 51.

A total of two vaccinations are planned, 4 weeks apart from each other. If no sufficient T cell response is achieved at the end of treatment visit (28 days after last vaccination) a booster vaccination at day 56 (+7 days) after the second vaccination can be applied

Connect with a study center

  • University Hospital Tuebingen

    Tübingen, 72076
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Kinderheilkunde I

    Tübingen, 72076
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • University Hospital Tuebingen

    Tübingen 2820860, 72076
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Kinderheilkunde I

    Tübingen 2820860, 72076
    Germany

    Site Not Available

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