personalized Cancer Vaccine Shows promise in Advanced solid Tumors
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A novel therapeutic vaccine,MVX-ONCO-1,is demonstrating encouraging early results in patients with advanced cancers that have become resistant to conventional treatments,offering a potential new avenue for personalized cancer care.
Conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy have limitations, particularly when battling advanced disease. Now, a team of researchers at the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have developed a two-pronged immunotherapy approach that harnesses the body’s own immune system to fight tumors. The study, recently recognized with a Pfizer Prize, represents a meaningful step forward in the field of therapeutic cancer vaccines.
Mobilizing the Body’s Defenses
The MVX-ONCO-1 vaccine utilizes a unique, dual-action mechanism. First, a sample of the patient’s tumor is obtained through a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The extracted cells are then irradiated, rendering them inactive while crucially preserving their antigens – the molecules that allow the immune system to recognize and target cancer cells. This inactivated tumor extract is then reintroduced into the patient as a personalized vaccine.
“When treating cancer, we don’t always know the exact antigens to target,” explains Vernet. “By using the entire inactivated tumor, we provide the immune system with a complete blueprint of possible targets.”
Together, biocompatible capsules containing genetically modified human cell lines are implanted under the skin. These capsules continuously release an immune-stimulating factor, known as an adjuvant, which activates antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. This process essentially “rearms” the immune system, particularly in patients whose immune function has been compromised by prior treatments like chemotherapy.
According to Dr. Fernandez, “Moreover, in preclinical studies, our adjuvant has proven to be the most effective ever developed for directing the immune system against a tumor.”
Promising Early Clinical Results
In a first-in-human clinical study, the researchers treated 34 individuals with advanced solid tumors that had proven resistant to all other available therapies.Each patient received six injections of their personalized MVX-ONCO-1 vaccine over a nine-week period. All stages of the process, from tumor sampling to vaccine administration, were conducted within the HUG infrastructure, adhering to stringent Swissmedic standards.
Prof. mach emphasizes the importance of the HUG’s facilities, stating, “We were able to rely on the platform of the cell therapy and transplantation laboratories…and the Research Unit of the Division of Oncology, for the management of patients and the clinical trial.”
The results revealed that over half of the study participants exhibited signs of clinical benefit, ranging from disease stabilization to prolonged survival. Importantly, no significant side effects were observed. “For patients, this is a minimally invasive and very well-tolerated therapy,” notes Dr. Fernandez. “This is essential when you consider how taxing conventional treatments can be.”
Looking Ahead: A New Era of Personalized Cancer Treatment
While these initial findings are not definitive proof of widespread effectiveness, they establish a strong foundation for a fully personalized therapeutic strategy. The team acknowledges that further research is necessary, including larger clinical trials involving patients at earlier stages of the disease and combinations with existing treatments.
“There is still much work to be done!” says Mach. “But we are starting from a solid base.” Securing funding for these advanced-phase clinical trials is now a primary focus. “Winning the Pfizer Prize is an important milestone, a mark of excellence and recognition that will help attract the necessary support to allow us to move forward.”
Source: Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
Journal reference: DOI : 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-24-0150
