Additional Coverage:
- Pancreatic cancer vaccine shows promise in first human trial, preventing disease in high-risk patients (foxnews.com)
A promising new vaccine aimed at preventing pancreatic cancer has demonstrated encouraging results in an early clinical trial conducted at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.
The phase 1 study, detailed in the journal Cancer Discovery, involved 20 participants with an inherited predisposition to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)-the most prevalent and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer-and who also showed pancreatic cysts detected through imaging. Importantly, none of these individuals had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the time of the study.
The experimental vaccine, known as mKRAS-VAX, was administered through four injections over a 13-week period. It specifically targets six common mutations in the KRAS gene, alterations that are present in over 90% of PDAC cases.
Results revealed that 90% of participants mounted an immune response against the mutant KRAS proteins, with immune activity increasing approximately 18-fold on average. Half of the subjects responded to all six KRAS mutations targeted by the vaccine. Additionally, the vaccine stimulated two types of T cells: those that attack abnormal cells directly and those that provide longer-lasting immune memory.
Safety outcomes were favorable, with only mild side effects such as injection site reactions and temporary flu-like symptoms reported.
Though the primary goal of this phase 1 trial was to assess safety rather than efficacy, none of the participants developed pancreatic cancer during an average follow-up of 16.5 months. Moreover, 37.5% experienced reduction or disappearance of their pancreatic cysts, which are considered risk factors for cancer.
Dr. Neeha Zaidi, associate professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins, emphasized the significance of the vaccine’s durable immune response for potentially intercepting cancer development. “This study represents the first proof of concept for using vaccines to intercept pancreatic cancer in humans,” she stated.
Dr. Michael Goggins, a co-author and pancreatic cancer research professor at Johns Hopkins, noted observed stability or regression of pancreatic cysts linked with KRAS-specific T-cell responses but underscored the need for larger studies to confirm the vaccine’s impact.
The researchers acknowledged the study’s limitations due to its small sample size and its design not being intended to prove clinical effectiveness.
Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee, deputy director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, highlighted the importance of prevention and interception strategies to save lives and reduce cancer-related morbidity, particularly for cancers like pancreatic cancer that lack effective early detection methods. She also called for increased funding to advance vaccine development for high-risk populations.
Further research is planned to optimize vaccine targets, approaches, and timing to improve preventive measures against pancreatic cancer.