The vaccine was tested on 20 pancreatic and five colorectal cancer patients.
A novel vaccine targeting one of the most common cancer-driving mutations is showing encouraging results in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Researchers reported in Nature Medicine that the vaccine, ELI-002 2P, could mark a major breakthrough in treatment.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with a five-year survival rate of just 13 per cent, according to the American Cancer Society. The vaccine, developed by US researchers, targets KRAS gene mutations, which are linked to 93 per cent of pancreatic cancers and 50 per cent of colorectal cancers.
In trials, ELI-002 2P was tested on 25 patients recovering from surgery. All showed signs of cancer likely to return, yet the vaccine appeared to train their immune systems to fight these mutations.
“This is an exciting advance for patients with KRAS-driven cancers,” said Dr. Zev Wainberg of UCLA. “Effective therapies are limited, and recurrence is almost a given after standard treatment.”