Personalised mRNA Vaccine Halves Melanoma Recurrence Risk
Dual therapy with Keytruda reduces death or recurrence by 42% in high-risk patients, marking a significant advance in cancer treatment.
Carla Rooney
A personalised mRNA cancer vaccine combined with immunotherapy has drastically cut the risk of melanoma recurrence.
The study involved over 1,100 individuals whose high-risk melanoma had been surgically removed. Scientists create the vaccine through tumor sampling, DNA sequencing, and artificial intelligence.
Trial participant Tony Chapman remains cancer-free after completing his treatment last year. Patients in the trial received either pembrolizumab alone or pembrolizumab combined with intismeran.
Alan Melcher called the results "very impressive." He added, "Cancer vaccines have been researched for many years, but advances in genetic sequencing, immunotherapies and mRNA technology, including experience gained from Covid vaccines, have transformed what is possible."
Melcher further explained, "What is particularly exciting here is that this vaccine is personalised, using information from each patient’s own tumour to identify targets that are specific to their cancer."
Dr Lennard Lee described the trial as "the Rolls-Royce of clinical trials." He stated, "It is a large, randomised, double-blind, well-controlled study, representing the highest standard of clinical evidence. The results are compelling. This is a major breakthrough for cancer vaccine research."
This is a major breakthrough for cancer vaccine research.
Susanna Daniels commented, "These positive trial results represent a really exciting milestone in melanoma skin cancer treatment." She noted, "With melanoma accounting for over 20,000 new diagnoses and 2,600 deaths in the UK each year, innovations that help prevent recurrence and stop the cancer spreading offer vital new hope for melanoma patients."
The personalized vaccine is not yet available as a standard treatment. It requires further study and regulatory review. Both MSD and Moderna are engaging with authorities, suggesting potential filings for approval next year.
The drug is also undergoing testing in other cancers, including kidney, bladder, and lung cancer. Drug manufacturers stated it was too early to tell from the data whether the combination treatment improved long-term survival.
Widespread NHS use will depend on cost. Individual tumor genetic analysis and vaccine creation are required. Shares in MSD and Moderna surged following initial hints of the vaccine's success, but saw some sell-off after analysts compared results to a smaller prior trial.