American scientists from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have reported impressive results from a clinical trial of a kidney cancer vaccine. The research was published in the scientific journal Nature.
After tumor removal, nine people with stage 3 or 4 clear cell renal cancer participated in the first phase of the trial. Each received a personalized vaccine. By the end of the observation period, after 34.7 months, all patients maintained stable remission.
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is one of the most aggressive forms of kidney cancer. Even after surgery and standard immunotherapy, such as pembrolizumab, two-thirds of patients experience a relapse.
The new vaccine is designed based on molecular features, known as neoantigens, in each patient’s tumor.
These neoantigens are fragments of mutant proteins found only in cancer cells. Using algorithms, researchers select the most suitable neoantigens to include in a vaccine, helping to “teach” the immune system to recognize and destroy any remaining cancer cells.
As research has shown, after receiving the vaccine, all patients developed a stable immune response, and the T cells induced by the treatment remained active in the body for up to three years.
“We observed a rapid and sustained increase in the number of T cells capable of attacking cancer cells. This opens up new possibilities for the treatment of kidney cancer,” said study co-author Dr. Patrick Ott.
