Affordable immunization option presents potential for preventing pancreatic cancer recurrence
A new off-the-shelf peptide vaccine, ELI-002 2P, has shown promising results in early trials for pancreatic and colorectal cancers. The vaccine targets KRAS mutations, common drivers in these cancers, and improves survival and delays recurrence.
The Phase 1 trial, published in Nature Medicine, administered ELI-002 2P to 20 pancreatic cancer patients and 5 colorectal cancer patients. The latest findings reveal that up to half of the patients treated with this vaccine had no relapse after 16.3 months, and median overall survival was 28.9 months, which exceeds historical norms.
The vaccine elicited strong KRAS mutation-specific T cell responses in 84% of patients, with those mounting higher T cell responses showing longer relapse-free and overall survival.
Compared to personalized mRNA vaccines, the peptide vaccine offers several potential benefits. It is off-the-shelf, meaning it can be mass-produced and stored, allowing immediate use after surgery for patients at high risk of relapse. Personalized mRNA vaccines, on the other hand, require individualized manufacturing that takes more time.
The peptide vaccine also induces both CD4+ and CD8+ KRAS-specific T cell responses and evidence of antigen spreading, where the immune system targets other tumor mutations beyond those initially targeted by the vaccine. This could enhance the overall anti-tumor effect and develop lasting immune memory.
Moreover, the vaccine maintains elevated, functional T cells producing cytotoxic molecules months after booster shots, potentially providing longer-term surveillance against cancer recurrence.
Personalized mRNA vaccines, while promising, are limited by their complexity and time required for customization. The peptide vaccine's standardized approach may streamline treatment access and reduce manufacturing barriers.
The vaccine only recognizes and targets cancer cells with KRAS gene mutations, responsible for 90% of pancreatic cancers and 40% of colorectal cancers. Unlike colorectal cancer patients, pancreatic cancer patients did not show a risk of cancer recurrence after administering the jabs, according to the findings.
Professor Siow Ming Lee, a professor of medical oncology at University College London, stated that the off-the-shelf cancer vaccine could expand treatment options for KRAS-induced cancers. Professor Lee also suggested that the vaccine might have fewer side-effects than current oral inhibitors.
If successful, the non-mRNA vaccines could be a major breakthrough in different types of cancer prevention. The vaccine is currently in the clinical trial stage for both pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Larger randomized trials are underway to confirm these findings and explore expanded peptide formulations.
Dr. Zev Wainberg, who co-led the Phase 1 clinical, explained that the vaccine's effectiveness is based on engaging an immune response. Prof Wainberg also noted that patients who mounted an immune response after the vaccine had a greater likelihood of not having their cancer return and living longer compared to historical expectations.
In summary, the peptide vaccine ELI-002 2P demonstrates early clinical success as an off-the-shelf immunotherapy that improves survival and delays recurrence in KRAS-mutated pancreatic and colorectal cancers by inducing robust T cell immunity. It may complement or provide an alternative to personalized mRNA vaccines with the benefits of immediate availability and broad applicability.
Who might benefit from the off-the-shelf cancer vaccine ELI-002 2P, if successful in larger trials? Us – those diagnosed with pancreatic or colorectal cancers with KRAS mutations, as the vaccine only targets these types of cancer cells.
The world of health-and-wellness could see a significant change with the potential breakthrough of non-mRNA vaccines like ELI-002 2P in cancer prevention.
Scientists suggest that the vaccine might have fewer medical-conditions, such as side-effects, than current oral inhibitors, making it a promising alternative treatment.
If the vaccine success continues in later trials, the pti (peptide vaccine) could offer us a notable advantage over personalized mRNA vaccines, providing immediate availability, streamlined treatment access, and potentially reducing manufacturing barriers.
