2024 version of Asco The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held in Chicago in early June, brought good news in the fight against melanoma, a type of skin cancer with a high mortality rate. Researchers have developed a Serum Studies revealed that 75% of patients who received the drug remained cancer-free after three years.

The vaccine uses the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology as Covid-19 and was led by researchers at New York University and combines Moderna's innovative mRNA-4157 (V940) vaccine with Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab), an established immunotherapy. The treatment was given to patients after surgery to remove stage III or IV skin cancer.

“An effective cancer vaccine is something that could represent a change in the view of oncology in general. I see this progress as a very important milestone, and these studies demonstrate the possibility of success in therapeutic forms different from the ones we have been using,” comments Bernardo Garicochea, Oncologist and hematologist in Oncology Clinics & Partners.

The specialist, who was present at ASCO and went on to present the clinical trial in a plenary session, rates this new vaccine approach combined with immunotherapy as impressive. However, it is still necessary to wait for larger and longer trials to confirm the effectiveness indicated by the preliminary data.

“Unlike traditional vaccines, which prevent disease, cancer vaccines are designed to treat existing diseases. The trial used the mRNA-4157 vaccine that was adapted to each patient’s specific cancer cells, thus improving the body’s ability to recognize and attack the ‘enemy’. The doctor adds:” “Pembrolizumab supports this process by activating T cells, the immune system’s front-line defenders.”

A phase III clinical trial will begin going forward, with the aim of testing the combination therapy in patients with high-risk melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

“This is another example of how precision oncology, supported by advances in knowledge of genomic DNA, is paving the way for us to treat more and more patients. This study will contribute to the continued improvement in survival rates for patients with melanoma, making The disease is significantly less lethal and provides these people with a better quality of life.

According to estimates by the National Cancer Institute, Brazil should register about 8,980 diagnoses of melanoma in 2024. Although it is a less common type of skin cancer, it is the most aggressive, with high death rates in the country.