Paris: French oncologist Suzette Delaloge on Thursday described a personalized vaccine designed to prevent skin cancer recurrence as a 'real hope' after pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck announced promising preliminary trial results. The treatment is intended for patients with melanoma who face a higher risk of recurrence and combines a personalized vaccine with standard immunotherapy.
According to Anadolu Agency, more than 1,100 patients took part in the clinical trial, with one group receiving the vaccine alongside immunotherapy and another receiving immunotherapy alone. The combination significantly reduced the risk of recurrence, as reported by Moderna and Merck.
Delaloge, an oncologist and chairwoman of the board of France's National Cancer Institute, noted that the detailed data have not yet been presented and are expected to be released at a European oncology conference in about two months. She shared her thoughts with broadcaster Franceinfo, highlighting that the study was 'very well conducted' and emphasized France's extensive participation.
The vaccine is tailored to each patient based on the genetic characteristics of their tumor. Doctors sequence the DNA of a small tumor sample to identify abnormalities that can serve as antigens recognizable by the immune system. The resulting vaccine can target up to 34 tumor-specific antigens, according to Delaloge. The aim is to train the immune system to recognize these proteins and destroy cancer cells carrying them if they reappear.
Delaloge explained that the approach holds particular significance for patients with more advanced melanoma, including those with lymph node involvement, who face a risk of recurrence in the form of potentially fatal metastases. Preliminary data with five years of follow-up indicated an approximately 50% reduction in the risk of recurrence.
The personalized approach also appeared feasible, with a vaccine successfully designed for about 85% of participants in the preliminary study, Delaloge mentioned, acknowledging that while it was not 100%, it is still quite remarkable. The vaccine employs messenger RNA technology, which researchers have developed further in recent years.
Similar personalized vaccine approaches are being studied for other cancers, including bladder and lung cancer, although Delaloge noted that these may be more challenging to treat with immunotherapy. Researchers are also exploring the potential use of such vaccines in cancer prevention, which she described as an important area for future development.