Long-term data from ASCO 2026 shows the personalized cancer vaccine Intismeran Autogene, combined with Keytruda, reduces recurrence or death risk by 49% in high-risk melanoma patients. Developed by MSD and Moderna, the vaccine uses AI to select neoantigens from a patient's tumor and mRNA technology to create a personalized treatment. The results signal a major advance for a field that had struggled for decades, spurring similar development efforts by other companies.
GeoVax is advancing Gedeptin toward a Phase 2 trial in head and neck cancer and has secured an exclusive license from Emory University for Gedeptin-ICI combination technology. The therapy has Orphan Drug Designation for oral and pharyngeal cancers.
Researchers have engineered immune cells to sense cancer metabolites, improving tumor infiltration in solid cancers. Separate studies identify Kappa and Lambda Myeloma Antigens as specific targets for multiple myeloma treatment, while mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccines show promise through AI-driven neoantigen selection.
Research reveals therapy-induced senescent cancer cells and the integrated stress response pathway play dual roles in cancer immunotherapy resistance. The ATF4-LCN2 axis suppresses anti-tumor immunity by promoting immunosuppressive macrophages, while senescent cells can both enhance and inhibit immune responses. These findings highlight new targets for improving immunotherapy efficacy.