Personalized cancer vaccine cuts risk of recurrence and death by 42%
A large clinical trial found a new personalized cancer vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma returning or causing death by 42% when combined with immunotherapy.
A clinical trial has demonstrated that a personalized cancer vaccine, when combined with immunotherapy, can lower the risk of melanoma returning or causing death by 42%. This groundbreaking vaccine, developed by MSD and Moderna, uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology and is custom-made for each patient based on their tumor's genetic information.
The trial, involving 1,137 adults, showed that patients receiving the vaccine alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda were 38% less likely to experience melanoma recurrence or spread over two years compared to those who received immunotherapy alone. While the results are promising, experts emphasize the need for longer studies to determine whether the treatment truly extends patients' lives.
The vaccine's potential for wider use is being explored in other cancers, including kidney, bladder, and lung cancer. However, the cost of personalized treatment and the need for genetic analysis of each patient's tumor may limit its widespread accessibility within the UK's National Health Service.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
