Investigating personalized cancer vaccines for advanced melanoma patients

Dissecting neoepitope-specific clonal T cell populations in advanced melanoma patients vaccinated with personal neoantigen peptides partnered with local and systemic immune checkpoint Inhibition

NIH-funded research Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-10689220

This study is testing a personalized cancer vaccine for people with advanced melanoma to help their immune system better fight the cancer, using unique pieces from their own tumors along with other treatments to see how well it works.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10689220 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing personalized cancer vaccines for patients with advanced melanoma, aiming to enhance the immune response against tumor cells. By using neoantigens, which are unique to each patient's tumor, the study seeks to create a tailored vaccine that works in conjunction with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The approach involves administering a vaccine made from synthetic long peptides alongside immune adjuvants and checkpoint inhibitors to improve treatment efficacy. Patients will be monitored for immune responses and tumor control as part of a phase 1 clinical trial.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma who have not responded to standard immune checkpoint therapies.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage melanoma or those who have not been diagnosed with melanoma may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized treatment options for advanced melanoma patients, potentially improving their survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results with personalized cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.