Cancer vaccine shows promise in preventing recurrence of pancreatic, colorectal tumors
An experimental cancer vaccine has shown promise in keeping certain cancers from coming back.
In a phase 1 clinical trial led in part by the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, researchers tested the vaccine (ELI-002 2P) with 25 patients who had been treated for pancreatic and colorectal cancer.
The patients had all undergone surgery to remove tumors and showed «signs of minimal residual disease» or traces of DNA, putting them at a high risk of recurrence, according to a UCLA press release.
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More than 80% of pancreatic cancer patients experience recurrence of the disease after surgery, research shows — and for 40% to 50%, this happens within the first year.
For colorectal cancer, the recurrence rate is between 30% and 50% and is most likely to occur within the first two years after surgery.
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