Dana-Farber validates new version of a personalized cancer vaccine
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute recently led a phase 1 clinical trial testing the new version of NeoVax, a personalized cancer vaccine, in melanoma patients. Dana-Farber says the new formula is “safe, feasible, and improves the vaccine-specific immune response compared to previous trials of the platform.”
Key components of NeoVaxMI:
- Personalized neoantigens
- poly-ICLC
- Montadine (not included in the previous formula)
The vaccine was given to participants in combination with immunotherapies systemic nivolumab and ipilimumab. The researchers surveyed “T cell responses to neoantigens” in all nine fully vaccinated patients, and “cytotoxic responses by special T cells called CD-8+ T cells in six of nine patients.” Additionally, when analyzing “skin biopsies taken from the vaccine and ipilimumab injection sites,” the scientists observed a surge in macrophages “suggesting that NeoVaxMI primed the area to initiate immune activation in response to the vaccine.” Furthermore, the vaccine aided T cell production and suggested “a potent vaccine-induced immune response.”
