Personalised melanoma vaccine cuts recurrence or death risk by 42 per cent
Developing story first seen 58 minutes ago
New trial findings show that a personalised melanoma vaccine, given with immunotherapy after surgery, cut the risk of recurrence or death by 42 per cent compared with immunotherapy alone. The result could mark a new approach to treating people at high risk of their melanoma returning, with potential implications for research into other cancers.
The trial was led by Professor Georgina Long of the University of Sydney and Melanoma Institute Australia. It tested intismeran, an mRNA vaccine tailored to the genetic features of each patient’s tumour, alongside pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda. The study included 1,137 patients at 157 sites worldwide; their melanoma had been surgically removed, and they had not previously received drug treatment for it.
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In short
- Personalised vaccine plus immunotherapy cut recurrence or death risk by 42 per cent.
- Intismeran is designed around the genetic features of each patient’s tumour.
- The trial involved 1,137 patients across 157 sites worldwide.
How this story developed
- 5 minutes ago The world-first study, led by Sydney scientist Professor Georgina Long, involved 1,137 patients at 157 sites and used intismeran, a Moderna and MSD vaccine tailored to each tumour’s genetic features.
- 11 minutes ago Trial results found that a personalised mRNA vaccine given with pembrolizumab after melanoma surgery reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 42 per cent compared with pembrolizumab alone.
Explained simply
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. Even after surgery removes the tumour, the cancer can return, so people at higher risk may receive further treatment to lower that risk.
Intismeran is an mRNA vaccine made to match genetic features of an individual patient’s tumour; it is designed to help the immune system recognise cancer cells. The trial compared it alongside pembrolizumab, a medicine that helps the immune system fight cancer, with pembrolizumab alone.
The international trial involved 1,137 people whose melanoma had been removed by surgery and who had not yet received drug treatment for it. Its findings may help researchers assess whether tailoring treatment to a tumour can reduce the chance of cancer returning, including in other cancers.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “World-first cancer vaccine slashes death risk in stunning findings led by Aussie scientist”.