Cancer Vaccine for Melanoma Shows Promise

A phase II study has shown that treatment with a new cancer vaccine was associated with immunologic and clinical responses, including two complete responses in patients with stage IV melanoma. The results were reported in the October 15, 2002, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Based on proprietary heat shock protein technology, the vaccine is derived from each individual's tumor and is designed to capture the "antigenic fingerprint” of the patient's particular cancer in order to reprogram the body's immune system to target and destroy only cancer cells bearing this fingerprint. The vaccine is intended to leave healthy tissue unaffected and to prevent the side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

All patients underwent surgery to remove tumor tissue, used to produce their personalized vaccine. Surgery was followed by at least one cycle of treatment with the vaccine, called Oncophage. Of the 28 patients who had residual disease after surgery, two experienced complete clinical responses after treatment with Oncophage. Moreover, these two patients survived tumor-free for at least two more years. Oncophage was developed by Antigenics, Inc. (New York, NY, USA).




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