A personalised melanoma cancer vaccine being developed by pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck could offer new treatment possibilities for patients, although further clinical research is needed to determine who may benefit and when the treatment could become available.
Speaking to Sigmalive, Dr Nikos Zamboglou, CEO of the German Oncology Centre in Cyprus, discussed the potential of combining a personalised cancer vaccine with immunotherapy to reduce the risk of melanoma returning.
According to the initial findings cited in the report, the combination has been associated with a significant reduction in the risk of melanoma recurrence and death.
Melanoma treatment has changed significantly
Dr Zamboglou said advances in oncology have substantially transformed the treatment of melanoma in recent years, creating possibilities that were previously extremely limited.
“We are improving in small steps. About eight years ago, malignant melanoma could amount to a death sentence for a patient. Today, there are tremendous possibilities, not only for prolonging life but also for achieving a cure,” he said.
He described the current period as an exciting time for humanity, highlighting two major developments taking place simultaneously: the technological and biomedical revolutions.
On one hand, artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming an increasing number of areas of everyday life. On the other, scientists are developing a deeper understanding of how cells function, allowing researchers to explore new ways of intervening in the processes responsible for disease.
“We increasingly understand the mechanisms of cells and see new possibilities for influencing the mechanisms that cause diseases. We are living in an exciting era, and the development of these vaccines represents another important advance,” he said.
What do the clinical trial results show?
Asked whether a sample of approximately 1,100 patients was sufficient to draw reliable conclusions, Dr Zamboglou said the available findings were encouraging and offered hope for new treatment options.
However, he stressed that positive early results did not mean the scientific investigation had been completed or that the precise indications for using the vaccine had been fully established.
Further clinical trials will be essential to assess its effectiveness and safety, as well as to identify which patients are most likely to benefit.
Which patients could receive the melanoma vaccine?
According to Dr Zamboglou, the treatment is being investigated for patients with melanoma, with the aim of reducing the likelihood of the disease returning.
He explained that further studies would clarify how the vaccine might eventually be incorporated into clinical practice.
“It appears to be a new weapon in our arsenal, which will be investigated further. We need to establish in which cases it will be indicated, whether it will be administered preventively, meaning after surgery, or in cases of recurrence. Many studies will follow,” he said.
Future research will therefore determine the precise role of the vaccine in melanoma treatment and the groups of patients for whom it could become an appropriate option.
Could the cancer vaccine become available in Cyprus?
Asked whether he was optimistic about developments in oncology, Dr Zamboglou linked his outlook to scientific progress and the establishment of the German Oncology Centre in Cyprus.
“If I were not optimistic, I would not have pursued oncology, nor would we have established the German Oncology Centre in Cyprus,” he said.
Regarding the possibility of the vaccine becoming available in Cyprus, he explained that new treatments must undergo clinical research and evaluation before receiving the necessary regulatory approvals.
Phase one, two and three clinical trials are essential stages in the development of new medicines and treatments. These are followed by assessments from the relevant regulatory authorities to determine whether the requirements for approval have been met.
“These procedures need to exist because it is easy for charlatanism to emerge,” he said, emphasising the importance of scientific evidence and rigorous evaluation before new treatments are introduced.
How does the Moderna and Merck vaccine work?
The personalised mRNA cancer vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck is designed around mutations unique to each patient’s tumour.
It is being investigated in combination with Merck’s widely used immunotherapy drug Keytruda, which helps the immune system fight cancer.
According to trial findings reported by the two pharmaceutical companies, the combination reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42%, while the risk of the disease spreading was reduced by 38%.
The reported findings were based on a large-scale trial involving more than 1,100 patients and were presented as evidence that a personalised vaccine combined with immunotherapy could help keep melanoma under control.
Moderna and Merck had previously announced in August that the treatment had demonstrated positive results, without releasing further details at that stage.
The findings, based on patient data from the first two years following treatment, were scheduled for presentation at a European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Madrid.
Although the results offer hope for more personalised cancer treatments, the vaccine remains subject to further scientific evaluation, and its eventual clinical use will depend on the outcome of additional studies and regulatory review.
Also Read: How Cyprus’ heating oil prices responded to the tax cut
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
