Off-the-shelf HLA-matched vaccine for advanced metastatic prostate cancer

An Off-the-Shelf tumor cell vaccine with HLA-matching alleles for personalized treatment of advanced metastatic prostate cancer.

NIH-funded research Briacell Therapeutics Corp · NIH-11184668

This project develops an off-the-shelf vaccine matched to patients' HLA types to boost immune responses against advanced metastatic prostate cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBriacell Therapeutics Corp NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11184668 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would receive a pre-made whole tumor cell vaccine chosen to match your HLA alleles so it better fits your immune system. The vaccine cells are designed to present cancer antigens and to activate immune cells by secreting GM-CSF, aiming to jumpstart an anti-tumor response. Instead of making a custom vaccine from your own tumor, doctors would match you to a pre-made vaccine line with compatible HLA types to make treatment faster and less costly. Early results with a related Bria-IMT product showed tumor regressions in some patients, and this program will test safety, immune responses, and clinical effects in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men with advanced metastatic prostate cancer whose HLA types can be matched to one of the available vaccine cell lines and who meet the trial's enrollment criteria.

Not a fit: Patients whose HLA types do not match any available vaccine lines or those with very rapidly progressing disease or incompatible medical conditions may not benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a more accessible, HLA-tailored vaccine option that strengthens anti-tumor immunity and may improve outcomes for some men with metastatic prostate cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Related whole-cell vaccines, including the Bria-IMT product, have produced tumor regressions in small trials—particularly when patients matched at HLA alleles—while the off-the-shelf HLA-matching strategy is a newer approach.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, 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.