Brain cancer vaccine a success in mid-stage trial

John Carroll — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:25:04 -0400

An experimental dendritic cell vaccine for glioblastoma multiforme--a lethal brain cancer--has demonstrated a successful immune response in a key study. And following a vaccination with chemotherapy significantly increased the time to tumor progression, according to a report in Cancer Research. Out of 32 patients in the mid-stage trial, 17 experienced a significant positive response after three vaccinations. The average length of survival was 21 months for responders compared to 14 months for non-responders.

"Fifty-three percent of patients in our study exhibited a significant vaccine-enhanced immune response. Compared to non-responders or those with limited responses, the vaccine responders had significantly longer times to tumor progression and longer survival," said Cedars-Sinai's Department of Neurosurgery Chairman Dr. Keith L. Black.

"No other vaccine trial in cancer patients has shown the kind of progressive correlation between immune responses and clinical outcomes that we found," said Christopher J. Wheeler, a research scientist at the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute.

- read the report in the Washington Post

Researchers explore brain cancer vaccine

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Researchers are touting the early results from a study of a new brain cancer vaccine that combines protein antigens extracted from a patient's tumor and matches them with white cells also drawn from the patient. The therapy is injected into patients, spurring T-cells to attack the remaining cancer cells after tumor-removal surgery. The vaccine, DCVax-Brain, is being developed by Bothell, WA-based Northwest Biotherapeutics.

"I've never seen a clinical trial that's had this promise," said Dr. Michael Gruber, medical director of the Brain Tumor Center of New Jersey.

- read the article from the Monterey Herald