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Testing the vaccine against brain cancer shows positive results
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. Today announced that its immunotherapeutic vaccine Rindopepimut has shown positive results in prolonging the survival of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma - one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. The life span of such patients is about 15 months after the detection of the tumor.
Rindopepimut acts on a specific EGFRvIII tumor epidermal growth factor receptor molecule. EGFRvIII are mutated forms of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which are found only in cancer cells, are oncogenes of transformation that promote the growth of cancer cells.
The detection of EGFRvIII is associated with poor prognosis of patient survival, regardless of other factors, such as the degree of tumor resection during surgery and age.
The results of the vaccine testing showed that the average life expectancy of patients reached 24 months. These data prove that Rindopepimut prolongs the life of patients almost 2 times. Scientists are preparing for the beginning of Phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccine.
A high level of immunity in vaccinated patients is associated with a loss of EGFRvIII replication ability. Rindopepimut, as a rule, is well tolerated when treated for up to 7 years; the side effects were mainly from the reaction at the injection site, fatigue, skin rash, nausea, and did not exceed 10%.