An international clinical trial has shown that a personalized cancer vaccine can help prevent melanoma from returning after surgery.
For people recovering from melanoma surgery, the fear of cancer returning can remain long after treatment ends. New research offers a promising reason for hope.
In a major international trial involving 1,137 patients, an experimental vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck significantly reduced the risk of melanoma returning or causing death.
The vaccine, called intismeran autogene, is created using genetic information from each patient's tumor. It helps the immune system recognize cancer-related proteins and is given alongside the immunotherapy drug Keytruda.
After two years, 82.2% of patients receiving both treatments remained free from recurrence, compared with 70% receiving Keytruda alone.
The findings, announced on October 22, 2026, represent an important advance in personalized cancer treatment.
The vaccine remains experimental, and researchers are continuing to study its long-term benefits.
