A groundbreaking study has shown that messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) based personalized cancer treatments significantly improve long-term survival rates. This marks the first long-term data demonstrating the real potential of mRNA technology in cancer therapy, a platform that initially gained prominence for its role in COVID-19 vaccines.
On Friday, industry sources reported that pharmaceutical giants Moderna and MSD unveiled long-term follow-up results from their Phase 2b clinical trial (KEYNOTE-942). The study focused on high-risk stage 3 and 4 melanoma patients.
The trial design involved administering a personalized cancer vaccine, Intismeran Autogene (mRNA-4157), in combination with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda to post-surgery patients. Their outcomes were then compared to a control group receiving Keytruda alone.
The findings were striking: patients receiving the combination treatment showed a 49% lower risk of cancer recurrence or death compared to those on Keytruda alone. Significant improvements were also observed in recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates. Importantly, the safety profile remained consistent with existing immunotherapies, with no notable increase in adverse effects.
The study encompassed 157 melanoma patients who had undergone complete tumor removal. These patients were divided into two groups and monitored over a five-year period. Key metrics included cancer recurrence, new primary cancer development, and mortality rates.
Intismeran Autogene employs a sophisticated approach, using genomic analysis of individual tumors to identify neoantigens. It then designs mRNA encoding up to 34 of these neoantigens for injection. Once in the body, this mRNA translates into antigen proteins, enhancing the immune system’s ability to recognize and target cancer cells with unprecedented precision.
Buoyed by these promising results, Moderna and MSD are ramping up their clinical trial efforts across various cancer types. They’ve completed enrollment for a Phase 3 trial (INTerpath‑001) evaluating post-surgical adjuvant therapy in melanoma. Additionally, two Phase 3 trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are underway, assessing both post-surgical therapy and pre-surgical combination treatments.
While mRNA technology became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic, its application in cancer treatment is still in its infancy. This study represents a watershed moment, providing the first long-term evidence that mRNA-based therapies can significantly improve survival rates in cancer patients, expanding its potential far beyond vaccine development.
Experts in the field suggest that this approach, combining mRNA technology with existing immunotherapies, could be a game-changer. It has the potential to overcome the response rate limitations seen in standalone immunotherapies, ushering in a new era of precision-Targeted cancer treatments.
Melanoma, known for its high malignancy among skin cancers and frequent post-surgical recurrence, has long challenged oncologists. The importance of effective adjuvant therapies cannot be overstated. Industry insiders believe these findings could revolutionize the standard of care for high-risk melanoma patients and pave the way for broader applications across various cancer types.