An experimental immunotherapy drug reduced the tumors of
some patients with cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV), according to
the results of a phase 1 clinical study presented by biologist and research
scientist, Douglas Rosenthal.
The drug, bintrafusp alfa (also called M7824), was designed
to simultaneously bind to two proteins (PD-L1 and TGF-beta) that prevent the
immune system from effectively fighting tumor cells.
The study included a total of 43 patients with advanced
cancers of the anus, cervix and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
The majority of patients (36) had tumors due to HPV infection.
Among all participants, 35% of the patients responded to the
drug (tumors were reduced in size).
Four of the responses lasted more than 18 months, and 11 of
the 15 responses still remained when the data were analyzed. Two patients
showed no detectable signs of cancer after treatment (complete responses).
