study with candida antigen for treatment of warts

Conditions: Warts; HPV

Summary: the purpose of this study is to look at how people respond to the treatment of warts through use of the candida antigen to get an immune response to rid the body of human papillomavirus (hpv). the immune system is the part of the body that fights infections like hpv which causes warts. this research study will examine the response of your wart when injected with a portion of a common yeast (candida) which is the study drug. your immune system response will also be looked at by doing a test called an elispot assay. this test is done on blood samples. the results of this test may help us to determine how the candida antigen affects your wart.

the use of recall antigens for treating warts is not yet food and drug administration (fda) approved. the primary goal of this work was to assess the safety of candin as an investigational new drug (ind) for the treatment of warts. in addition, clinical resolution of treated and untreated warts was evaluated and immunologic responses were examined using an ex vivo interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ifn-γ elispot) assay in order to elucidate the immunologic mechanisms behind the successful regression of warts in patients undergoing candin injection immunotherapy.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * subjects must be ages 18-50. * female subjects of child-bearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test before each treatment. * female subjects of child-bearing potential agree to use a reliable form of birth- control as the risks associated with candida antigens during pregnancy are not known. * subjects must have two or more cutaneous, non-genital, non-facial warts. * subjects must be able to provide written, informed consent. * subjects must be willing to comply with the requirements of the protocol. * subjects vital signs must be within the following parameters at time of enrollment: * blood pressure - \<150/95 mmhg * temperature - \<100.4° f * pulse rate - 50 to 100 beats/minute * respiratory rate - \<24 breaths/minute exclusion criteria: * subjects who have a history of disease or treatment that has caused the subject to be immunosuppressed to include, but not limited to, cancer, hiv, or organ transplantation. immunosuppression will be determined only by medical history. * subjects who are pregnant, lactating, or attempting to become pregnant, as the risks associated with candida antigens during pregnancy are not known. * subjects who have only genital or facial warts. * subjects who are unable to return for follow-up visits or comply with the protocol. * subjects who have a known allergy to thimerosol or the candida antigen. * subjects who have a history of asthma as determined by a medical history or treatment for an asthmatic episode. * subjects who have any type of diabetes. * subjects who are currently using non-selective beta blockers. * subjects who are currently using h2 antagonists (e.g., cimetidine). there will be a 24 hour washout period for any use of h2 antagonists prior to beginning treatment in the study. * subjects who have a history of keloid formation. * subjects who have a history of alcohol or illicit drug abuse, as determined only by medical history. * subjects who have had previous treatment with candida antigens for their warts. * subjects who are currently using any other treatments for their warts. this includes prescription or over-the-counter medications. subjects must have a wash¬out period of 30 days for any previous treatments prior to beginning the study. * subjects with a blood pressure \>150/95, temperature \>100.4° f, pulse rate \ 100 beats per minute, and respiratory rate \>24 at time of enrollment.

Keywords: warts candida hpv injections, intralesional immune system