MD Anderson researcher: If cancer vaccine proves successful, 'we can be bringing this new treatment to patients across the world'

The University of Texas (UT) MD Anderson Cancer Center announced on Tuesday, April 18 that it has been chosen to participate in the third phase of a cancer vaccine clinical trial, according to a report from Houston CBS affiliate KHOU. 

The highly touted facility in the Texas Medical Center (TMC) will serve as a site for Moderna and Merck’s ongoing study for an mRNA vaccine for melanoma, the station reported.

Per KHOU, researchers discovered that during the study’s first two phases, patients who were administered the vaccines experienced a 44% decrease in recurrence compared to those given standard care. 

Given recent data, scientists believe they’re near establishing mRNA vaccines as a weapon in the fight against cancer, especially melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, MD Anderson melanoma medical oncology deputy chair Dr. Hussein Tawbi said in the report. 

“While it only represents about 10% of all skin cancers … It’s responsible for almost 80% of all deaths related to skin cancer,” Tawbi said.

KHOU reported that Tawbi expressed cautious optimism about what the second trial revealed. 

“It was actually quite impressive,” he told the station, calling the 44% drop a “really large decrease.” 

Tawbi, who’ll head the upcoming phase of the study, added that approximately 1,000 patients from around the world will be included.

“If we can prove that this is an even more effective approach, then we can be bringing this new treatment to patients across the world, not just in Houston and at MD Anderson,” the professor told KHOU. 

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) website, while melanoma is the least common among all types of skin cancer, it presents a serious danger as it’s quick to spread throughout the body if not detected and treated early. 

Men tend to get the cancer on their chests and backs while it develops on the legs for women, the ACS said.