Pancreatic and colorectal cancers have high recurrence rates after treatment, but a new ‘off-the-shelf’ vaccine called ELI-002 2P offers fresh hope for individuals affected by these deadly diseases. The vaccine targets mutations in the KRAS gene, which are linked to 93 percent of pancreatic cancers and 50 percent of colorectal cancers.
Developed by researchers across the US, ELI-002 2P is designed to precisely target parts of the immune system where a variety of immune cells are held. In a recent clinical trial, the vaccine was tested on 20 people recovering from pancreatic cancer and five people recovering from colorectal cancer. The results were positive: 84 percent of the individuals had developed mutant-KRAS-specific T cells in their body, ready to fight off mutated products of the gene.
Traces of tumors were completely cleared in 24 percent of the participants, and those who developed the strongest immune response remained disease-free for almost 20 months. The median relapse-free survival was 16.33 months, and the median overall survival was 28.94 months – significantly longer than expected for cancers like these.
What makes ELI-002 2P even more promising is that it’s an ‘off-the-shelf’ vaccine, meaning it doesn’t need to be personalized for each person. This could make treatment faster and more accessible. Further trials are needed to fully evaluate the risks and benefits, but initial results suggest this vaccine could add years of health to people’s lives.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/new-vaccine-for-two-deadly-cancers-shows-promise-in-clinical-trial