A groundbreaking trial has shown that the world's first personalized mRNA cancer vaccine for melanoma can significantly reduce the risk of patients dying or the disease returning. The trial results have been described as "extremely impressive" by doctors.

Melanoma, a form of skin cancer, affects more than 150,000 people globally each year. The trial focused on patients who had a stage three or four melanoma removed, and those who received the mRNA vaccine had a 49% lower risk of dying or experiencing a recurrence of the disease after three years.

The trial was conducted by Moderna and Merck, with the vaccine administered alongside the immunotherapy Keytruda. Patients in the phase 2b trial had high-risk melanomas and were randomly given either the vaccine and Keytruda or Keytruda alone. The combination of the vaccine and Keytruda showed a 2.5-year recurrence-free survival rate of 74.8%, compared to 55.6% for Keytruda alone.

"We are encouraged by the latest results," said Kyle Holen, Moderna's head of development, therapeutics, and oncology. The vaccine, known as mRNA-4157 (V940), is custom-built for each patient based on the sequencing of DNA from a sample of their tumor. It instructs the body to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and prevent the disease from recurring.

The results of this trial mark a significant milestone in the field of cancer vaccine research. Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, praised the findings and emphasized the potential of therapeutic cancer vaccines when combined with powerful immunotherapies.

In a separate trial presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, researchers from the University of Vienna found that cancer vaccines can also improve survival rates for breast cancer patients after surgery. The trial involved 400 patients with early stage breast cancer, and those who received the vaccine before surgery had a higher seven-year survival rate compared to those who received standard care.

Dr. Christian Singer, the lead author of the breast cancer trial, called the results a "significant and profound long-term survival benefit" of an anti-cancer vaccine in breast cancer patients.

Prof. Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, described the melanoma trial results as "extremely impressive" and highlighted the potential of the vaccine approach to improve survival rates and reduce disease relapse.

In a revolutionary world-first scheme, thousands of patients in England are being fast-tracked into personalized cancer vaccine trials through an NHS "matchmaking" program, highlighting the commitment to save lives and implement groundbreaking treatments.

These promising developments in personalized cancer vaccines offer hope for patients worldwide and signify a significant step forward in the fight against cancer. Continued research and advancements in immunotherapies and tailored treatments hold the potential to further improve survival rates and reduce the burden of cancer in the future.