Chicago – In a significant development in cancer research, a collaborative effort between pharmaceutical giants Merck & Co and Moderna Inc has yielded promising results in a midstage trial for the treatment of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago, showcased the efficacy of an experimental mRNA-based vaccine in combination with Merck’s Keytruda immunotherapy. The combination therapy demonstrated a 65% reduction in the risk of melanoma spreading, compared to treatment with immunotherapy alone.
mRNA Technology and Personalized Vaccines:
The breakthrough findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential of mRNA technology in developing personalized cancer vaccines. mRNA, which gained recognition during the Covid-19 pandemic, has shown promise in training the immune system to target specific cancer cells in a patient’s tumors. For decades, scientists have pursued the dream of cancer vaccines with limited success. However, the ability of mRNA vaccines, produced in a relatively short time span of eight weeks, combined with immune system-boosting drugs, offers the possibility of a new generation of cancer therapies.
Dr Jane Healy, a Merck executive overseeing early cancer treatment development, expressed optimism about the future possibilities, stating, “The hope is for a completely new treatment paradigm in cancer that will be better tolerated and unique to individual patients’ tumors.”
Neoantigens and Individualized Vaccines:
The collaborative efforts of Merck and Moderna, along with other companies like Pfizer’s partner BioNTech SE and Gritstone Bio Inc, have focused on targeting neoantigens, which are new mutations present exclusively in tumors. By directing the immune system towards these unique proteins, cancer cells can be selectively eliminated while sparing healthy tissue. The challenge lies in identifying the specific mutations driving each patient’s cancer.
The process involves removing tumors and mapping their genetic makeup through next-generation DNA sequencing. Artificial intelligence is then employed to predict the most effective targets among the numerous mutations. This information is utilized to create a personalized vaccine that exclusively targets mutations found in the patient’s tumor. Additionally, patients typically receive immunotherapy alongside this process, such as Keytruda or Roche’s Tecentriq, which prevent cancer from evading immune system detection.
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A New Era in Cancer Treatment:
The potential of mRNA technology as a delivery vehicle for cancer vaccines has been under exploration long before the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 2016, Merck and Moderna have been collaborating on this front, while researchers at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSK) joined forces with Germany’s BioNTech in 2017.
Dr Vinod Balachandran from MSK noted that immunotherapy had demonstrated success in “hot” tumors, characterized by high mutation rates, such as melanoma. However, there was limited hope for its effectiveness in “cold” cancers, which possess fewer mutations, like pancreatic cancer. Standard treatments for pancreatic cancer result in a 90% mortality rate within five years of diagnosis.
The current breakthrough in melanoma treatment signals a starting point for further advancements in the field of cancer research. As researchers continue to explore mRNA technology and personalized vaccines, the hope is to extend these revolutionary treatment options to a wider range of cancer types, ultimately improving patient outcomes and survival rates.
As the quest for effective cancer vaccines continues, this collaborative effort between Merck and Moderna has showcased promising results, fueling optimism for a new era in cancer treatment and offering renewed hope to patients and medical professionals worldwide.
