A delayed dose of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine demonstrates immune memory in HIV-1-infected men

1. Introduction

Persistent infection of the anus with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) causes squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most common non-AIDS-defining cancers [1], [2]. HIV-infected individuals are at much higher risk for developing anal cancer than HIV-uninfected individuals [3], [4], [5], [6]. Approximately 70% of anal cancers are due to HPV types 16 or 18 and most genital warts are associated with HPV types 6 and 11 [7], [8]. The quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine, which induces neutralizing antibodies titers in recipients against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, prevented 93% of persistent anal infections and 78% of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions caused by these types in HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) [9].

While the qHPV vaccine series is highly immunogenic in HIV-infected adults and children, antibody titers are lower than those reported in HIV-uninfected populations [10], [11], [12]. In studies of both HIV infected and HIV-uninfected vaccine recipients, the titers developed in response to the standard three-dose qHPV series peak soon after the third dose then decline. HIV-uninfected women [13] and HIV-infected children [14] demonstrated an anamnestic response to a fourth dose of the qHPV vaccine suggesting that the qHPV vaccine induces immune memory.

Published studies of HIV-infected adults receiving qHPV vaccine have relatively limited follow-up and the characteristics of the long-term humoral response have not yet been described. It is unclear how much immunity wanes in this population and whether the standard 3 dose series generates immune memory which is necessary for long-term protection against new infections. A delayed fourth vaccination can simulate antigen exposure and a robust increase in antibodies suggestive of an anamnestic response indicative of immune memory [13], [14], [15]. When exposed to specific antigens, long-lived memory immune cells generate an immune response to prevent or stop infection [13].

The AIDS Malignancy Consortium Protocol 052 (AMC052) demonstrated the safety and immunogenicity of the standard three dose qHPV vaccine series in HIV-infected adult males [10]. Here we describe the long-term titers after vaccination in this study population. Since there are no accepted criteria for an anamnestic response, we sought to describe the titers at one and four weeks after a fourth dose, similar to what has been shown in HIV-uninfected women [13]. We hypothesized that titers would be higher four weeks after a fourth dose compared with four weeks after the third dose.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Study population

A summary of study sites, enrollment criteria, and exclusion criteria for AMC052 has been previously reported [10]. Eligible participants for this analysis completed the three-dose series and provided written consent to receive the fourth dose and receive additional follow-up. AMC052 and this add-on study were approved by the Institutional Review Board at each participating site.

2.2. Study treatment

In the AMC052 protocol participants received 0.5 mL of intramuscular qHPV recombinant vaccine (Gardasil, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation) at entry and at weeks 8 and 24. Participants received a fourth dose at week 128 (2 years after completion of the original 3 dose series).

2.3. Study monitoring

In addition to previously reported AMC052 data, participants were assessed at weeks 76, 128, 129, and 132. All signs and symptoms were graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [16].

2.4. Laboratory testing

Serum was collected for assessment of antibody responses at entry, and weeks 28, 76, 128, 129, and week 132. Vaccine type epitope-specific neutralizing antibodies to HPV were analyzed with a competitive Luminex-based immunoassay (Merck Research Laboratories) as described previously [17], [18]. These assays were performed under the direction of Merck Research Laboratories at PPD Vaccines and Biologics Laboratory (Wayne, PA).

2.5. Statistical considerations

HPV seropositivity was defined as having titers of ≥ 20, ≥ 16, ≥ 20, and ≥ 24 milli-Merck units per mL (mMU/mL) for types 6, 11, 16, and 18, respectively, for each assay [18]. Participants with undetectable antibody concentrations were nominally assigned a value of 50% of the detection limit for the assay. Participants that received all four doses of vaccine were included in analysis at weeks 128–132 regardless of baseline antibodies to HPV or detection of anal HPV DNA.

Geometric mean titers and corresponding two-sided 95% confidence intervals were calculated for titers. For investigating the impact of the fourth dose, the primary endpoints were the titers of type specific antibodies at weeks 129 and 132 (1 and 4 weeks after the fourth qHPV dose). Median changes in titers for week 129 versus week 128 and week 132 versus week 28 (4 weeks after fourth and third doses respectively) were compared using the paired Wilcoxon signed rank test. Proportions of HPV seropositive participants were computed and paired comparisons were made using McNemar's test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant and p-values were not adjusted for multiple comparisons.

3. Results

3.1. Study participants

AMC052 enrolled 112 subjects from 8 sites. 103 patients received the standard three dose vaccine series and were potentially eligible for a fourth dose. Seventy-five (73%) participants consented and received a fourth dose. Of these, 73 had evaluable sera at week 128; 67 and 69 patients had evaluable sera at weeks 129 and 132. Baseline characteristics of the eligible patients are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Demographic summary and selected baseline characteristics of the 103 eligible participants that had received three doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine in AMC052.

Demographic and Baseline Characteristics
Ethnicity/Race, N (%)
Hispanic	17 (17)
Non-Hispanic/White	65 (63)
Non-Hispanic/Black	13 (13)
Non-Hispanic/Asian/Pacific Islander	6 (6)
Non-Hispanic/Multiracial	2 (2)
Age in years, Mean (SD)	43.8 (9.3)
Mean CD4, cells/µL (SD)
Current, N = 102	563.9 (222.6)
Nadir, N = 103	103 (249.7)
Current use of ART, N (%)	87 (84%)
Plasma HIV− 1 RNA level < 200 copies/mL (%)	85 (83%)

3.2. Titers

After the third vaccine dose was administered at week 24, titers peaked at week 28. Titers then fell sharply through week 76 (on average 48–76%) followed by a smaller decline (19–38%) through week 128. Fig. 1 graphically summarizes the distribution of geometric mean titers at each time point (see Supplemental Table 1 for detailed data). At week 76, the proportion of participants with HPV seropositivity was greater than 96% for types 6, 11, and 16; type 18 seropositivity was 66%. Despite the further drop in titers through week 128, the proportion with HPV seropositivity was greater than 94% for types 6, 11, and 16%, and 63% for type 18. The fourth dose was given at a median time of 135 weeks (interquartile range 129–141) after vaccine series initiation. Median titers increased significantly one week after vaccination at week 129 for all HPV types including 18, which saw a significant increase to 91% (N = 67 pairwise comparisons, p < 0.001) in the proportion of HPV seropositive participants to antibodies to type 18. Supplemental Table 2 summarizes the proportion of HPV seropositive patients at all visits. Antibody titers to HPV 16 and 18 were significantly higher at week 132 (four weeks after the fourth dose) compared to week 28 (four weeks after the third dose). Antibody titers to HPV 6 and 11 were not significantly different between week 132 and week 28 (Table 2).

Fig. 1.

Trend of geometric mean HPV titers by viral type over time including 95% CI. The asterisks (*) on the x-axis represent vaccine doses administered at 0, 8, 24, and 128 weeks. There were significant increases in peak titers for HPV types 16, 18 at week 132 compared to week 28.

Table 2.

Median increase in titers.

	Median Change (mMU/mL) [Interquartile Range]	p-value
Median change in titers one week after fourth dose (week 129 versus week 128) (N = 67):
HPV 6	154 [5, 381]	< 0.001
HPV 11	276 [69, 495]	< 0.001
HPV 16	497 [154, 1347]	< 0.001
HPV 18	115 [54,439]	< 0.001
Median change in titers between week 132 (four weeks after the fourth dose) and week 28 (four weeks after the third dose) (N = 69):
HPV 6	19 [− 526, 685]	0.901
HPV 11	94 [− 508, 836]	0.245
HPV 16	935 [− 375, 3135]	0.002
HPV 18	125 [− 23 629]	0.001

3.3. Safety

There were no grade 3, 4, or 5 events related to the vaccine during the follow up period after 28 weeks.

4. Discussion

In this HIV-infected adult male population, we have shown that titers peak four weeks after a third dose of qHPV vaccine and then decrease through 2.5 years after vaccine series initiation. The titers plateau at lower levels than seen in HIV-uninfected populations or HIV-infected children [12], [14]. We have demonstrated a rapid increase in titers four weeks after a delayed fourth dose of qHPV vaccine consistent with an anamnestic response as has been described in other populations [13], [14]. For types 16 and 18, the titers 4 weeks after the fourth dose are significantly higher than those observed 4 weeks after the third dose. These results are consistent with the induction of immune memory with the standard three dose series and suggest that HPV vaccination generates a memory B-cell population as a mechanism for long-term protection in this HIV-infected adult populations.

Antibodies against HPV 18 are present at lower concentrations than the other three types and are more likely to decline below the assay threshold for HPV seropositivity. This pattern is similar to that seen in HIV-uninfected populations [19]. This is thought to be due to specific characteristics of the neutralizing epitope for the HPV 18 antibody assay rather than lower immunogenicity for the HPV 18 viral-like particle [20]. Breakthrough infection with HPV 18 has not been demonstrated in long-term cohort studies of qHPV vaccine recipients [13], [21], [22]

The majority of participants retained HPV seropositivity for the four vaccine types through 128 weeks after vaccine initiation. After a sharp decline from peak titers, the titers exhibited a smaller decrease from week 76 to week 128 after vaccine initiation. We have shown that a delayed fourth dose of vaccine generates a higher peak titer in antibodies to HPV 16 and 18 but not to HPV 6 and 11. For HPV 16, the titers 4 weeks after the fourth dose in our study was similar to the titers observed in heterosexual HIV-uninfected males aged 16–23 years and 27–45 years after they are vaccinated with three doses (2422 mMU/mL compared to 2622 mMU/mL and 2285 mMU/mL, respectively) [23], [24]. The antibody titer needed for maintenance of protection is not clear. The higher titers elicited by a fourth dose of qHPV vaccine in HIV-infected individuals may or may not lead to greater protection or prolonged immunity against future infection with HPV types contained in the vaccine.

There are limitations to this analysis. Only a subset of AMC052 participants received the fourth dose and the serologic data are incomplete. The serologic assay used in this study only measures a portion of the humoral response induced by HPV infection as it only identifies neutralizing antibodies to limited number of epitopes, specifically those induced by the qHPV vaccine. These assays may underestimate the level of protection provided to vaccine recipients. For a given viral type, it is not possible to discern whether participants were truly immunologically naïve to a given HPV type and serologic responses (undetected by the assay used) may have been modified by prior infection with a specific HPV type. While not a limitation to this study, the generation of an immune response itself does not imply protection in this population given the high rate of current and prior HPV infection at study entry.

In summary, this study demonstrates that HIV-infected adult men receiving the HPV vaccine exhibit a sustained antibody response to the vaccine. They demonstrate a robust humoral immune response to a fourth dose of the vaccine consistent with immune memory resulting from a three dose vaccine series. While a fourth dose of qHPV vaccine induces higher antibody response in HIV-infected adult men than the three dose series, the clinical significance of this finding is unknown.

Appendix A. Supplementary material

Supplementary material

Supplementary material