A novel cancer vaccine, ELI-002 2P, has shown encouraging early results in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancers, two of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to target one of the most common cancer-driving mutations, KRAS, which is found in about 25% of solid tumors.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, followed 25 patients who had undergone surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or colorectal cancer and showed signs of minimal residual disease. Each patient received a series of injections with ELI-002 2P, which uses an amphiphile technology developed by Elicio Therapeutics to target KRAS mutations.
The results showed that 84% of patients generated KRAS-specific T cells, including both CD4+ helper cells and CD8+ killer cells. Many of these T cells persisted over time, and in some cases, the biomarkers associated with the tumor were completely cleared. Patients with higher T-cell responses had a longer relapse-free survival compared to those with lower responses.
The vaccine offers a promising approach to generating precise and durable immune responses without the complexity or cost of fully personalized vaccines. The research team is now completing enrollment in a larger Phase 2 study of ELI-002 7P, a next-generation version of the vaccine that targets a broader set of KRAS mutations.
Source: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/release/shelf-cancer-vaccine-elicits-strong-immune-response-patients