New vaccine trains immune system to fight tough melanoma

NCT ID NCT07288112

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Diakonos Oncology Corporation Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 9 times

Summary

This study tests a new treatment called DOC1021 for people with advanced melanoma that has not responded to standard therapy. DOC1021 is a personalized vaccine made from a patient's own blood and tumor cells, designed to teach the immune system to attack the cancer. The trial will first check safety in a small group, then look at whether the treatment can shrink tumors. Participants also receive a drug called peginterferon alfa-2a to boost the immune response.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: DOC1021 (personalized dendritic cell vaccine made from the patient's own blood and tumor material) plus peginterferon alfa-2a
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with melanoma that has stopped responding to standard therapies.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase trial with only 35 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment involves multiple procedures and may cause side effects like flu-like symptoms or immune reactions.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

melanoma refractory malignant neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

REFRACTORY MELANOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Arizona State University-Honor Health Research Institute
RECRUITING

Scottsdale, Arizona, 85258, United States
Atlantic Health
RECRUITING

Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, United States
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Gilbert, Arizona, 85234, United States
City of Hope
RECRUITING

Duarte, California, 91010, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Institute
RECRUITING

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
RECRUITING

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
UT Southwestern
RECRUITING

Dallas, Texas, 75235, United States
University of North Carolina
RECRUITING

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

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