Human papillomavirus infection is extremely common — most sexually active people get it at some point. Most infections clear on their own within two years, but some high-risk HPV types can cause cervical cancer, head and neck cancers, and other cancers. Vaccination prevents infection, and regular screening catches cervical changes early.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing therapeutic vaccines that help the immune system clear persistent HPV infections, immune checkpoint inhibitors for HPV-related cancers, and combination approaches pairing vaccines with immunotherapy. Researchers are also studying better screening methods, treatment for pre-cancerous cervical changes, and ways to identify who's at highest risk for cancer.
Therapeutic vaccines
Unlike preventive HPV vaccines, therapeutic vaccines aim to treat existing infections by training the immune system to recognize and destroy infected cells. Several are in trials for cervical pre-cancer and HPV-related cancers.
Immunotherapy combinations
Checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab are approved for some HPV-related cancers. Trials are testing them earlier in treatment and combining them with therapeutic vaccines or chemotherapy.
Screening advances
Studies are testing self-collection methods for HPV screening and DNA tests that predict which infections will progress to cancer. Better risk stratification could reduce unnecessary procedures.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on HPV type, whether infection has caused cellular changes or cancer, site of disease, and prior treatments.
What types of trials are currently open
- Therapeutic vaccine trials — Testing vaccines designed to clear persistent HPV infections or treat pre-cancerous changes in the cervix or other sites.
- Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors and other immune drugs for HPV-related cancers of the cervix, throat, anus, and other sites.
- Treatment trials for pre-cancer — Testing less invasive treatments for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, such as topical medications or targeted ablation.
- Screening and prevention studies — Testing new HPV tests, self-collection methods, and ways to predict which infections need treatment.
- Observational studies — Following people with HPV to understand why some infections clear and others persist, and what factors increase cancer risk.
Recently added Human Papillomavirus Infection trials
Complete a cervical sample collection at home using a self-collection device
To evaluate whether individuals drawn from the intended use population can successfully interpret and follow the IFU for the Mia by XytoTest self-collection device and perform a vaginal sample collection yielding sufficient cellular material for primary hrHPV screening. To assess the clinical performance of Mia self-collected vaginal specimens by evaluating agreement with paired clinician-collected cervical specimens for the detection of high-risk HPV, when both specimen types are analyzed using the cobas HPV Test (Roche Molecular Systems). Residual samples may be used to determine adequacy for additional assays that require vaginal and/or cervical specimens (such as mRNA E6 and E7 Biomarker Test, dual stain cytology).
Receive laser treatment combined with a healing gel for genital warts
Phase II, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness and recurrence of genital warts by combination of CO2 laser and Geniwa gel compared to laser CO2 combined with gel placebo. The clinical trial is conducted at National Dermatology Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
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