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Three Schedules of CUE-101 Administered Before Surgery or Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy in HLA-A*0201 Positive Patients With Locally Advanced, HPV16-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma

  • PhasePhase 2
  • StatusRecruiting
  • Planned enrollment30 people
  • Recruiting US sites1
  • SponsorWashington University School of Medicine
  • RegistryNCT04852328

Recruitment re-checked on ClinicalTrials.gov Oct 30, 2026. Public record; not medical advice.

Three Schedules of CUE-101 Administered Before Surgery or Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy in HLA-A*0201 Positive Patients With Locally Advanced, HPV16-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma: a one-minute explainerNCT048523281 min

Eligibility

Who can join

The film gives the main points. The full list below is copied from the registry; the study team makes the final decision.

  • Age18 Years to no maximum
  • SexAll
  • Healthy volunteersNo

You may be able to join if

  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma of the oropharynx or of an upper (levels 2-3) neck mass without a known primary site, but is suspected to be oropharynx based on clinical factors.
  • Stage I-III (AJCC 8th Edition) [except clinical stages T1N0 and T2N0, which are excluded from enrollment].
  • A candidate for standard of care therapy (either surgery followed by adjuvant therapy OR def-CRT), based on treating physician decision.
  • HLA-A*0201 genotype as determined by genomic testing on blood sample performed at a CLIA-certified clinical or central laboratory.
  • Tumors must test positive for HPV16 by PCR (performed on tumor) or ISH (performed in tumor) and p16INK4A expression (>70% staining in tumor cells) by IHC performed at a CLIA-certified clinical or central laboratory.
  • Have archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion of sufficient size and quality for eligibility determination.
  • At least 18 years of age.
  • ECOG performance status ≤ 1.
  • Normal bone marrow and organ function as defined below:
  • Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcl
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcl
  • AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 3.0 x IULN
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x IULN, except patients with Gilbert's syndrome, who may enroll if the conjugated bilirubin (total and direct) is within normal limits
  • Creatinine < 1.5 mg/dL, or calculated or measured creatinine clearance >30 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault
  • Note: Screening laboratory tests may be repeated once within 7 days.
  • The effects of CUE-101 on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because novel Fc Fusion Protein agents are known to be teratogenic, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of the study, and 30 days after completion of the study.
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants.

You cannot join if

  • History of prior allogeneic bone marrow, stem-cell or solid organ transplantation
  • Distant metastases.
  • Treatment with radiation therapy or systemic anti-cancer therapy prior to the initiation of study drug administration.
  • Treatment with corticosteroids (>10 mg per day prednisone or equivalent) or other immune suppressive drugs within the 14 days prior to the initiation of study drug administration. Corticosteroids for topical, ophthalmic, inhaled, or nasal administration are allowed. Physiological replacement with hydrocortisone up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day is allowed.
  • History of clinically significant cardiovascular disease including:
  • Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the 16 weeks prior to the initiation of study drug
  • Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias
  • Uncontrolled hypertension: systolic blood pressure >180 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure >100 mmHg
  • Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, or transient ischemic attack within the 16 weeks prior to the initiation of study drug
  • QTc prolongation > 480 msec
  • Congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III- IV)
  • Pericarditis/clinically significant pericardial effusion
  • Myocarditis
  • Clinically significant pulmonary compromise (eg, requirement for supplemental oxygen).
  • Clinically significant gastrointestinal (GI) disorders including history of:
  • GI perforation within 1 year prior to study drug administration;
  • GI bleeding within 3 months prior to the initiation of study drug;
  • Acute pancreatitis within 3 months prior to the initiation of study drug;
  • Diverticulitis that is clinically significant in the opinion of the investigator based on the extent or severity of known disease and/or the occurrence of clinically significant disease flares within 4 weeks prior to the initiation of study drug administration; and/or
  • Cirrhosis.
  • Evidence of active viral, bacterial, or systemic fungal infection requiring parenteral treatment within 7 days prior to the initiation of study drug. Patients requiring any systemic antiviral, antifungal, or antibacterial therapy for active infection must have completed treatment no less than 1 week prior to the initiation of study drug.
  • Known history of hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection or known positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antigen, or hepatitis C polymerase chain reaction. However, patients with treated hepatitis C in complete remission and off therapy for > 1 year are eligible.
  • Second primary invasive malignancy that has not been in remission for greater than 2 years. Exceptions include: non-melanoma skin cancer; cervical carcinoma in situ; squamous intraepithelial lesion on Pap smear; localized prostate cancer (Gleason score < 6); resected melanoma in situ; or favourable prognosis (<10% relapse risk) thyroid cancer.
  • Prior treatment of the head and neck region with radiation therapy.
  • History of major surgery within 4 weeks prior to the initiation of study drug administration. A diagnostic needle or excisional biopsy is not considered major surgery.
  • Any serious underlying medical condition that would impair the ability of the patient to receive or tolerate the planned treatment at the investigational site.
  • Known hypersensitivity to recombinant proteins, polysorbate 80 or any excipient contained in the drug formulation for CUE-101.
  • Vaccination with any live virus vaccine within 4 weeks prior to the initiation of study drug administration. Inactivated annual influenza vaccination is allowed. Vaccination for COVID-19 is allowed within one week prior to initiation of study drug administration.
  • Active or recent history of uncontrolled alcohol or other substance abuse within 3 months prior to the initiation of study drug administration.
  • Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours of study entry.

The treatment

How it is intended to work

This is how the treatment is meant to work. Whether it helps, and how safe it is, is what this trial is testing.

HPV16 E7-specific HLA-A*02:01-restricted IgG1-Fc fusion protein CUE-101. A fusion protein composed of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex, HLA-A*0201, with a peptide epitope derived from the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 protein (amino acid residues 11-20), a reduced affinity human interleukin-2 (IL-2) variant, and an effector attenuated human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) Fc domain, with potential antineoplastic and immunostimulatory activities. Upon administration, CUE-101 targets and selectively binds to E7-specific CD8-positive T cells present in patients with HPV16-driven malignancies. This may induce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and promote the activation and expansion of tumor-specific CD8-positive cells, which may lead to T-cell-mediated elimination of tumor cells expressing the HPV16 E7 antigen. The HPV16 E7 oncoprotein is a cell surface glycoprotein and tumor-associated antigen (TAA) that is overexpressed in various HPV-associated cancers. NCI Drug Dictionary

Treatments listed in the registry

  • CUE-101 (Drug): CUE Biopharma will supply CUE-101, which will be provided free of charge to the patient.

The study

Treatment groups

Non Randomized · Sequential · masking: None

Schedule A: CUE-101 (Experimental)

* In Schedule A, CUE-101 will be administered during the neoadjuvant phase as a single dose given 14 days prior to initiation of standard of care (SOC) therapy. * Standard of care therapy consists of surgery and postoperative adjuvant (cisplatin) and radiation therapy or cisplatin and radiation therapy (definitive-chemoradiation therapy)

Schedule B: CUE-101 (Experimental)

* In Schedule B, CUE-101 will be administered during the neoadjuvant phase as two doses: one dose given 14 days and one dose given 7 days prior to initiation of standard of care (SOC) therapy. * Standard of care therapy consists of surgery and postoperative adjuvant (cisplatin) and radiation therapy or cisplatin and radiation therapy (definitive-chemoradiation therapy)

Schedule C: CUE-101 (Experimental)

* In Schedule C, CUE-101 will be administered during the neoadjuvant phase as a single dose given 7 days prior to initiation of standard of care (SOC) therapy. * Standard of care therapy consists of surgery and postoperative adjuvant (cisplatin) and radiation therapy or cisplatin and radiation therapy (definitive-chemoradiation therapy)

What it involves

Procedures

As the registry describes them. Requirements to join, such as a tissue sample, are in the eligibility list above even when on-study procedures are optional. Ask the study team which steps apply to you.

  • surgery: Part of the study plan
  • radiation: Part of the study plan

Goals

What the study measures

Main goals

  • Number of treatment-related adverse events (From start of treatment through 12 months after the completion of standard of care treatment (estimated to be 15 months))
  • Number of adverse events (From start of treatment through 12 months after the completion of standard of care treatment (estimated to be 15 months)
  • Treatment-related delays in start of standard of care therapy (From start of treatment through start of standard of care therapy (estimated to be 2 weeks))
  • Change in frequency of HPV16 E711-20-specific CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood samples (Through 12 month follow-up)
  • Change in frequency of HPV16 E711-20 tetramer-positive cytotoxic T cell lymphocytes (Through 12 month follow-up)
  • Change in frequency of HPV16 E711-20-specific CD8+ T cells in tumor samples (Baseline, day -2 or -1 before start of standard of care therapy)
  • Activation markers of HPV16 E711-20 tetramer-positive cytotoxic T cell lymphocytes (Through 12 month follow-up)
  • Proliferative status of HPV16 E711-20 tetramer-positive cytotoxic T cell lymphocytes (Through 12 month follow-up)

Other goals

  • Pathological tumor response
  • Objective response rate (ORR)
  • Change in area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of serum PK parameters
  • Change in Cmax of serum PK parameters
  • Change in Terminal elimination half-life(t1/2) of serum PK parameters
  • Number of participants who relapse
  • Number of participants who die summarized by cause of death
  • Progression-free survival (PFS)
  • Overall survival (OS)

Planned enrollment: 30 (estimated).

Where

Recruiting US sites

  • Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri

Site status as of Oct 30, 2026. Check the live record before contacting a site.

Sources

Where this comes from

Registry record reviewed as fetched Oct 30, 2026, last updated by the sponsor Jul 19, 2026. Public record; not medical advice.

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