Personalized neoantigen-targeting cancer vaccines in ovarian cancer: a phase 1 trial.

Personalized neoantigen-targeting cancer vaccines showed safety and immune activity in high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer patients, with 75% of recurrent patients vaccinated.

• Why it matters: This work addresses the need for effective, personalized immunotherapies for ovarian cancer, a disease with limited treatment options and immune resistance mechanisms.
• What they did: A phase 1 trial tested a vaccine called 'NeoVax' composed of synthetic peptides targeting patient-specific neoantigens, combined with poly-ICLC and anti-PD-1, in ten patients post-chemotherapy, with nine recurrent patients vaccinated.
• The result: No unexpected safety issues were observed, and vaccine biomarker analysis indicated biologic activity in six patients, with immune responses associated with tumor antigen presentation and potential clinical efficacy.