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CompletedNCT02632344Updated Apr 30, 2026Results posted

Pembrolizumab for HPV-associated Recurrent Respiratory Papilloma Patients

A Phase 2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab in Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 12 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-30.

Sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
21
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
12 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This research study is evaluating an immune modulatory agent as a possible treatment for patients with Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) with significant disease involving the larynx, trachea, and/or lungs. The investigators will be using Pembrolizumab as the treating agent.

Read the detailed description

This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational intervention to learn whether the intervention works in treating a specific disease. The FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has not approved Pembrolizumab for your specific disease but it has been approved for other uses.

Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody. Pembrolizumab is being studied in several other clinical trials to see if it has an effect in helping the immune system to recognize and eliminate abnormal cells in the body. The antibody blocks a receptor expressed on immune cells, called T cells, and by blocking this receptor it has the potential to activate the T cells to kill abnormal cells, such as virally infected cells.

In this research study, the investigators are looking at whether Pembrolizumab can restore the natural ability of the immune system to recognize and eliminate Human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected cells from the body.

02

Conditions studied

  • Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Keywords

  • Laryngeal papilloma, recurrent
  • Respiratory papillomatosis
  • Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
  • Human papillomavirus
  • Virally-related diseases
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital is the lead sponsor of 2,537 studies on the registry; 447 are open to participants now.

Of its 214 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 161 (75%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
12 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial.
  • Be 12 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  • Have histologically confirmed diagnosis of RRP that involves the trachea, lungs, and/or larynx. The latter of which has required 3 or more surgeries within a year to remove the lesions from their larynx. Subjects must have evaluable disease either based on RECIST 1.1 and/or endoscopic parameters, as discussed above.
  • Be required to provide tissue from a newly obtained biopsy of a tumor lesion. Newly-obtained is defined as a specimen obtained up to 6 weeks (42 days) prior to study registration. Subjects for whom newly-obtained samples cannot be provided (e.g. inaccessible or subject safety concern) may submit an archived specimen only upon agreement from PI.
  • Have confirmed human papillomavirus-associated lesions based on in-situ hybridization testing and/or polymerase chain reaction which may be performed on a newly obtained biopsy or archived sample.
  • Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in Table 1, all screening labs should be performed within 10 days of study registration System Laboratory Value

    • Hematological

      • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1,500 /mcL
      • Platelets ≥100,000 / mcL
      • Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL or ≥5.6 mmol/L without transfusion or EPO dependency (within 7 days of assessment)
    • Renal

      • Serum creatinine OR Measured or calculated creatinine clearance ≤1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) OR
      • (GFR can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl) ≥60 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels > 1.5 X institutional ULN
    • Hepatic

      • Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN OR Direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels > 1.5 ULN
      • AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X ULN OR ≤ 5 X ULN for subjects with liver metastases
      • Albumin >2.5 mg/dL
    • Coagulation

      • International Normalized Ratio (INR) or Prothrombin Time (PT)≤1.5 X ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants.
      • Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) ≤1.5 X ULN unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants.
    • Creatinine clearance should be calculated per institutional standard.
  • Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving any dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
  • Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication (Reference Section 5.7.2). Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for > 1 year. The methods of surgical sterilization include having had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries), tubal ligation (having your tubes tied), and transvaginal occlusion (blocking the tubes with a coil).
  • Male subjects should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to study registration.
  • Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis)
  • Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
  • Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study registration or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
  • Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study registration or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent.

    --Note: Subjects with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study.

  • Recovery from effects of any major surgery or significant traumatic injury at least 28 days before the first dose of study treatment. Endoscopic debridement of RRP lesions is NOT considered a major surgery
  • No known diagnosis of invasive squamous cell carcinoma within the previous 2 years.
  • Patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma derived from their RRP who are not considered appropriate for surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy by their treating oncology team may be considered eligible for the study.
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • Has known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent.
  • Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
  • Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. --Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
21 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Pembrolizumab

    Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be administered as a 30 minute IV infusion every 3 weeks. Treatment will be administered on Day 1 of each cycle after all procedures/assessments have been completed

    Drug: Pembrolizumab

Interventions

  • DrugPembrolizumab

    200 mg will be administered as a 30 minute IV infusion every 3 weeks on day 1 of each cycle after all procedures/assessments have been completed.

    Also known as: Keytruda, MK-3475

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Overall Response Rate Via Endoscopic Lesional Burden Score and/or RECIST

    A Simon two-stage design was used to assess best objective response rate based on endoscopic lesional burden and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). For the endoscopic lesions burden score,T=the range of the score is 0 to 83. A lower score means decreased disease burden.

    Time frame: Up to 2 years

  2. Number of Participants With Adverse Events Through CTCAE

    To determine the safety and tolerability of pembrolizumab in subjects with RRP.

    Time frame: Up to 3 years after enrollment of the last the patient

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assess Duration of Response

    To evaluate the response duration in subjects receiving pembrolizumab.

    Time frame: Time from observed partial response to the development of progressive disease.

07

Results

Posted Jul 3, 2023

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestonePembrolizumab
Started21
Completed13
Not completed8
Withdrew: Adverse event3
Withdrew: Lack of efficacy3
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject2

Outcome measures

PrimaryOverall Response Rate Via Endoscopic Lesional Burden Score and/or RECIST

A Simon two-stage design was used to assess best objective response rate based on endoscopic lesional burden and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). For the endoscopic lesions burden score,T=the range of the score is 0 to 83. A lower score means decreased disease burden.

Time frame:
Up to 2 years
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Overall Response Rate Via Endoscopic Lesional Burden Score and/or RECIST
ParticipantsPembrolizumab
Overall Response Rate Via Endoscopic Lesional Burden Score and/or RECIST21
PrimaryNumber of Participants With Adverse Events Through CTCAE

To determine the safety and tolerability of pembrolizumab in subjects with RRP.

Time frame:
Up to 3 years after enrollment of the last the patient
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Adverse Events Through CTCAE
ParticipantsPembrolizumab
Number of Participants With Adverse Events Through CTCAE15
SecondaryAssess Duration of Response

To evaluate the response duration in subjects receiving pembrolizumab.

Time frame:
Time from observed partial response to the development of progressive disease.
Reported as:
Mean · months
Assess Duration of Response
monthsPembrolizumab
Assess Duration of Response13.1 ± 6.2

Adverse events

Collected over Up to 3 years after study registration.. Non-serious events are listed at a 1% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Pembrolizumab3/21 (14.3%)1/21 (4.8%)15/21 (71.4%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventPembrolizumab
HypophysitisEndocrine disorders1/21
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventPembrolizumab
FatigueGeneral disorders15/21

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Pembrolizumab
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years19
>=65 years2
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Pembrolizumab
Median45 (19 to 68)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Pembrolizumab
Female9
Male12
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Pembrolizumab
Hispanic or Latino2
Not Hispanic or Latino16
Unknown or Not Reported3
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Pembrolizumab
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American2
White14
More than one race2
Unknown or Not Reported3
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Pembrolizumab
United States21
08

Study locations

2 sites
  • NorthShore University HealthSystem
    Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Sep 28, 2020

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 30, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02632344
Lead sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital
Collaborators
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Responsible party
Sara Pai, MD, PhD (Sara Pai, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 16, 2015
Start date
Apr 2016
Primary completion
Feb 2022
Completion
Dec 2025
Results posted
Jul 3, 2023
Last update
Apr 30, 2026

Study contacts

Sara Pai, MD PhD
principal investigator · Massachusetts General Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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