Can a vaccine keep melanoma from coming back? large trial tests immune boosters

NCT ID NCT01989572

Completed Disease control Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 3 trial tested whether a yeast-derived immune stimulant (GM-CSF) and a peptide vaccine, alone or together, could prevent melanoma from returning after surgery. 815 patients with no visible cancer after complete surgical removal of advanced melanoma were randomly assigned to receive GM-CSF, the vaccine, both, or placebo. The study measured how long patients lived without the cancer coming back and overall survival.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Sargramostim (GM-CSF) and tyrosinase peptide vaccine

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that combining GM-CSF with a peptide vaccine helps prevent melanoma from coming back after surgery.

What could go wrong

This trial is complete, but results may not show a clear benefit over placebo. The approach is complex and may not work for all melanoma types.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer of unknown primary site cutaneous melanoma iris melanoma medium/large size posterior uveal melanoma melanoma metastatic melanoma mucosal melanoma ocular melanoma ocular melanoma with extraocular extension small size posterior uveal melanoma uveal cancer uveal melanoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

IRIS MELANOMA MEDIUM/LARGE SIZE POSTERIOR UVEAL MELANOMA MUCOSAL MELANOMA OCULAR MELANOMA WITH EXTRAOCULAR EXTENSION RECURRENT MELANOMA RECURRENT UVEAL MELANOMA SMALL SIZE POSTERIOR UVEAL MELANOMA STAGE IIA CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AJCC V6 AND V7 STAGE IIA UVEAL MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IIB CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AJCC V6 AND V7 STAGE IIB UVEAL MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IIC CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AJCC V6 AND V7 STAGE IIIA CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IIIA UVEAL MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IIIB CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IIIB UVEAL MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IIIC CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IIIC UVEAL MELANOMA AJCC V7 STAGE IV CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AJCC V6 AND V7 STAGE IV UVEAL MELANOMA AJCC V7

Contacts and locations

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Locations

AdventHealth Orlando

Orlando, Florida, 32803, United States
Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, United States
Alegent Health Immanuel Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68122, United States
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Herrick Campus

Berkeley, California, 94704, United States
Anne Arundel Medical Center

Annapolis, Maryland, 21401, United States
Atlanta VA Medical Center

Decatur, Georgia, 30033, United States
Augusta University Medical Center

Augusta, Georgia, 30912, United States
Aultman Health Foundation

Canton, Ohio, 44710, United States
Aurora Cancer Care-Glendale

Glendale, Wisconsin, 53212, United States
Banner University Medical Center - Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center

Jacksonville, Florida, 32207, United States
Baystate Medical Center

Springfield, Massachusetts, 01199, United States
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Boulder Community Hospital

Boulder, Colorado, 80301, United States
CHI Health Saint Francis

Grand Island, Nebraska, 68803, United States
Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma Research

Lawton, Oklahoma, 73505, United States
Cancer Research Consortium of West Michigan NCORP

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
Cancer Research for the Ozarks NCORP

Springfield, Missouri, 65804, United States
Carle Cancer Center

Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States
Carolinas Medical Center/Levine Cancer Institute

Charlotte, North Carolina, 28203, United States
Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Duarte, California, 91010, United States
Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
Cleveland Clinic-Weston

Weston, Florida, 33331, United States
Creighton University Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68131, United States
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
Dayton NCI Community Oncology Research Program

Dayton, Ohio, 45420, United States
Delaware County Memorial Hospital

Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, 19026, United States
Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee, 37614-0054, United States
Eastern Maine Medical Center

Bangor, Maine, 04401, United States
Eisenhower Army Medical Center

Fort Gordon, Georgia, 30905-5650, United States
Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
Florida Cancer Specialists-West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach, Florida, 33401, United States
Fox Chase Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111, United States
Franklin Medical Center

Greenfield, Massachusetts, 01301, United States
Geisinger Medical Center

Danville, Pennsylvania, 17822, United States
Genesis Medical Center - East Campus

Davenport, Iowa, 52803, United States
Glens Falls Hospital

Glens Falls, New York, 12801, United States
Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21204, United States
Guthrie Medical Group PC-Robert Packer Hospital

Sayre, Pennsylvania, 18840, United States
Hattiesburg Clinic - Hematology/Oncology Clinic

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39401, United States
Holy Family Memorial Hospital

Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 54221, United States
Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital

Muncie, Indiana, 47303, United States
IU Health Methodist Hospital

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
Indiana University/Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
Interlakes Foundation Inc-Rochester

Rochester, New York, 14623, United States
Iowa Methodist Medical Center

Des Moines, Iowa, 50309, United States
Iowa-Wide Oncology Research Coalition NCORP

Des Moines, Iowa, 50309, United States
Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
Jupiter Medical Center

Jupiter, Florida, 33458, United States
Kaiser Permanente Washington

Seattle, Washington, 98112, United States
Kaiser Permanente-San Diego Mission

San Diego, California, 92108, United States
Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center

Lakeland, Florida, 33805, United States
Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone

New York, New York, 10016, United States
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest

Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18103, United States
Loyola University Medical Center

Maywood, Illinois, 60153, United States
Manchester Memorial Hospital

Manchester, Connecticut, 06040, United States
Marshfield Medical Center-Marshfield

Marshfield, Wisconsin, 54449, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
Mayo Clinic in Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona, 85259, United States
Mayo Clinic in Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, 32224-9980, United States
McFarland Clinic PC - Ames

Ames, Iowa, 50010, United States
Medical Center of Central Georgia

Macon, Georgia, 31201, United States
Medical City Dallas Hospital

Dallas, Texas, 75230, United States
Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates-Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, 50309, United States
Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
Memorial Medical Center

Springfield, Illinois, 62781, United States
MetroHealth Medical Center

Cleveland, Ohio, 44109, United States
Mid Dakota Clinic

Bismarck, North Dakota, 58501, United States
Mobile Infirmary Medical Center

Mobile, Alabama, 36607, United States
Montana Cancer Consortium NCORP

Billings, Montana, 59102, United States
Montefiore Medical Center-Wakefield Campus

The Bronx, New York, 10466, United States
Mount Sinai Medical Center

Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, United States
Natalie Warren Bryant Cancer Center at Saint Francis

Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74136, United States
Naval Medical Center -San Diego

San Diego, California, 92134, United States
Nebraska Methodist Hospital

Omaha, Nebraska, 68114, United States
Nevada Cancer Research Foundation CCOP

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89106, United States
New York Medical College

Valhalla, New York, 10595, United States
North Memorial Medical Health Center

Robbinsdale, Minnesota, 55422, United States
Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

Charlotte, North Carolina, 28204, United States
Ochsner Health Center-Summa

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809, United States
Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson

New Orleans, Louisiana, 70121, United States
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
Orange Regional Medical Center

Middletown, New York, 10940, United States
Paoli Memorial Hospital

Paoli, Pennsylvania, 19301, United States
Pottstown Hospital

Pottstown, Pennsylvania, 19464, United States
ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 53066, United States
ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital

Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53188, United States
Providence Portland Medical Center

Portland, Oregon, 97213, United States
Rush - Copley Medical Center

Aurora, Illinois, 60504, United States
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, United States
SCL Health Saint Joseph Hospital

Denver, Colorado, 80218, United States
Saint John Medical Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104, United States
Saint Joseph Hospital - Orange

Orange, California, 92868, United States
Saint Louis-Cape Girardeau CCOP

St Louis, Missouri, 63141, United States
Saint Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute

Boise, Idaho, 83712, United States
Saint Luke's University Hospital-Bethlehem Campus

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18015, United States
Saint Mary Medical and Regional Cancer Center

Langhorne, Pennsylvania, 19047, United States
Saint Mary's Hospital and Regional Medical Center

Grand Junction, Colorado, 81501, United States
Saint Vincent Healthcare

Billings, Montana, 59101, United States
Saint Vincent Hospital Cancer Center Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin, 54301, United States
Sanford Bismarck Medical Center

Bismarck, North Dakota, 58501, United States
Sanford Cancer Center Oncology Clinic

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57104, United States
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland, 21215, United States
Siouxland Regional Cancer Center

Sioux City, Iowa, 51101, United States
Skagit Valley Hospital

Mount Vernon, Washington, 98274, United States
South Georgia Medical Center/Pearlman Cancer Center

Valdosta, Georgia, 31602, United States
Southeast Clinical Oncology Research (SCOR) Consortium NCORP

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27104, United States
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center

Fort Myers, Florida, 33901, United States
Stanford Cancer Institute Palo Alto

Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States
Stony Brook University Medical Center

Stony Brook, New York, 11794, United States
Swedish Medical Center

Englewood, Colorado, 80113, United States
Swedish Medical Center-First Hill

Seattle, Washington, 98122-4307, United States
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton

Hamilton, New Jersey, 08690, United States
The James Graham Brown Cancer Center at University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky, 40202, United States
The Medical Center of Aurora

Aurora, Colorado, 80012, United States
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
Tufts Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

La Jolla, California, 92093, United States
University Medical Center of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, United States
University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States
University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sacramento, California, 95817, United States
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
University of Cincinnati/Barrett Cancer Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
University of Missouri - Ellis Fischel

Columbia, Missouri, 65212, United States
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States
University of New Mexico Cancer Center

Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102, United States
University of Pennsylvania/Abramson Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States
University of Rochester

Rochester, New York, 14642, United States
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College

Burlington, Vermont, 05405, United States
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
VA Palo Alto Health Care System

Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States
Vanderbilt University/Ingram Cancer Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
Veterans Administration-San Diego Medical Center

San Diego, California, 92161, United States
Veterans Adminstration New Jersey Health Care System

East Orange, New Jersey, 07018-1095, United States
Wayne Memorial Hospital

Goldsboro, North Carolina, 27534, United States
West Michigan Cancer Center

Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49007, United States
West Virginia University Charleston Division

Charleston, West Virginia, 25304, United States
Wichita NCI Community Oncology Research Program

Wichita, Kansas, 67214, United States