Brain Cancer Vaccine Passes Phase 1 Of Human Trials

An experimental brain cancer vaccine has successfully passed Phase 1 of human trials. The data from the trial suggests that the vaccine is safe and stimulates an immune response that slows tumor progression. The vaccine was tested by cancer researchers in Germany on patients with glioma. We believe that the IDH1 vaccine offers the potential for developing a treatment that can suppress these tumors more effectively and on a long-term basis, Study Co-Director Wolfgang Wick, MD. The vaccine targets a specific mutation in the IDH1 gene in order to alert a patient's immune system to mutated proteins. Gliomas make up 80% of all malignant brain tumors and are difficult to remove by surgery. The findings were published in the journal ‘Science’ and researchers are currently planning a larger Phase 2 trial