Hackensack University Medical Center Clinical Research on mRNA Vaccine Intervention Benefits in High-Risk Melanoma

John Theurer Cancer Center (JTCC) physician co-authors promising findings on safety and efficacy of mRNA skin cancer vaccination used with current immunotherapy treatments

Researchers at Hackensack University Medical Center’s John Theurer Cancer Center (JTCC), a part of the NCI-designated Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University, recently reported on a novel mRNA vaccine delivering improved survival rates in Stage IIIB and IV skin cancer, as part of an ongoing joint-study.

The study, published in weekly, peer-reviewed medical journal, The Lancet, found Moderna’s mRNA-4157 vaccine, with pembrolizumab–a checkpoint inhibitor form of immunotherapy sold under the brand name Keytruda–prolonged recurrence- and metastasis-prevention in patients with resected, high-risk melanoma, compared to pembrolizumab therapy alone.

“These results are potentially transformative,” Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., FACP, CPE, co-division chief of Skin Cancer and Sarcoma at JTCC, said. “The combination of the mRNA vaccine with a checkpoint inhibitor clearly showed prolongation of recurrence-free survival and lower recurrence or death event rates over a 24-month period, and a higher survival rate without recurrence at 18 months.”

The study’s findings provide evidence that a personalized, mRNA-based neoantigen therapy—delivered via vaccination—holds promise to enhance the immune response achieved in melanoma using current immunotherapy treatments.

Dr. Pecora led JTCC’s participation, and Geoffrey T. Gibney, M.D., led Georgetown Lombardi’s participation in the international study, which was funded by Moderna in collaboration with a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.

“It’s thrilling to be on the precipice of transforming cancer care with the novel mRNA vaccine approach," Dr. Pecora said. “We’re grateful to Merck and Co., and Keytruda, for their collaboration as we move from Phase 2b into Phase 3 trials of a treatment with great potential to achieve better patient outcomes.”

Learn more about cancer care innovations at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center.