Clinical Trial Will Test if Vaccine Can Prevent, Delay Cancer Recurrence

Researchers hope the vaccine they soon will begin testing in humans will prevent or delay the recurrence of some cancers. Patients with pleural mesothelioma will be among the first to receive the H1299 lysate vaccine with an Iscomatrix adjuvant. The vaccine is a form of immunotherapy designed to trigger the body's immune system into preventing new cancer growth. The National Institutes of Health(NIH) will begin conducting the three-year trial in September. It’s designed for patients whom recently completed standard treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, and whom have little or no residual disease at the start. The NIH, in Bethesda, Maryland, already is conducting a handful of other clinical trials involving mesothelioma and immunotherapy, but researchers sound particularly enthused about this one. "We're very excited about the potential of this trial," David Schrump, M.D., senior investigator and surgical chief at the NIH, told Asbestos.com. "We'd very much like to have some mesothelioma patients involved. It's a unique opportunity. We've had considerable interest already." Clinical Trial Examines Immunologic Response The lysate vaccine with Iscomatrix, not previously used in humans, will be tested on patients with lung and esophageal cancers, along with mesothelioma and certain other thoracic sarcomas. The trial will measure the response rate of the vaccine given alone, in contrast to the vaccine given in conjunction with metronomic cyclosphosphamide, a...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Research & Clinical Trials Source Type: news