Men With Melanoma Who Receive Enhanced Vaccine Experience Improvements in Overall Survival
Source: Pharmacy Times, April 2024
It is unclear why the vaccines were less effective in women, but researchers note that the findings can be important when determining immune therapy outcomes in patients with melanoma.
A second-generation melanoma vaccine currently in development improves long-term survival in patients with melanoma compared with the first-generation vaccine, according to study authors who published their findings in Nature Communications. In addition, the vaccine demonstrated stronger efficacy in male patients than in female patients.
The study authors noted that it is unclear why the vaccine was more effective in men, however, they noted that biologic sex is showing to be an important factor in the outcomes of patients with melanoma, particularly with immune therapies. The vaccine was enhanced by the simultaneous stimulation of immune cells—helper T cells—to recognize melanoma proteins while also stimulating killer T cells against melanoma. This induces immune responses against human melanoma cells. This method, according to the authors, improved both patient survival and prevents reoccurrences of the cancer.