Vaccine to help prevent ovarian cancer from coming back
Official title: Th17 T cell-inducing vaccines for the prevention of ovarian cancer recurrence
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11178557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This vaccine trains Th17 immune cells to help women in first remission from high-grade ovarian cancer stay cancer-free after surgery and chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2009 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $210,820 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA136393-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women with high-grade ovarian cancer who are in their first remission after optimal debulking surgery and completed platinum-based adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with active, progressive disease, those who have not completed standard surgery and chemotherapy, or those with non–high-grade tumors are unlikely to benefit from this vaccine program.
What this research studies
As a patient, I would receive a personalized dendritic cell vaccine that is prepared to stimulate Th17-type immune responses. The team has done laboratory work and is running a Phase II clinical program to give the vaccine to women after debulking surgery and completion of platinum-based chemotherapy. Doctors will monitor my immune response, watch for side effects, and follow whether the cancer returns over time. Vaccine preparation, dosing, and follow-up visits take place at the treating center.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could reduce the risk of ovarian cancer coming back and extend the length of remission.
How similar studies have gone: Early-phase dendritic cell vaccines and Th17-focused approaches have generated immune responses in small studies, but clear evidence they prevent recurrence is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knutson, Keith L. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Knutson, Keith L.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.