American, German and Austrian oncologists have proven that the personalized cancer vaccines they tested are safe and clinically effective in preventing melanoma. Two relevant studies have been published in the journal Nature, as reported briefly by Nature News.
In the first publication, American scientists report the results of the first phase of clinical trials of a vaccine aimed at 20 personalized neoantigens associated with skin cancer. Four out of six patients who were vaccinated had no recurrence of melanoma within 25 months.
In a second publication, German and Austrian authors report the first-of-its-kind application of a personalized RNA-based vaccination approach aimed at eliminating neoepitopes in 13 melanoma patients. In eight patients, tumors disappeared 23 months after vaccination.
Experts plan to begin the second phase of clinical trials of vaccines, as well as determine their effectiveness in the fight against other types of cancer.
