Could a vaccine made from your own cancer cells beat melanoma?
NCT ID NCT01753089
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This early-stage trial tested a custom-made vaccine called WDVAX in 23 people with advanced melanoma. The vaccine is created from each patient's own killed tumor cells, mixed with immune-boosting proteins, and formed into a small dissolvable tablet. The goal was to see if it's safe and possible to make, and whether it can train the immune system to fight the cancer.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- WDVAX (a vaccine made from the patient's own killed melanoma cells combined with immune-boosting proteins GM-CSF and CpG, formed into a dissolvable scaffold)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a personalized vaccine that trains the immune system to attack melanoma.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early Phase I trial with only 23 people, focused on safety and feasibility. The vaccine may not trigger a strong enough immune response or shrink tumors, and side effects are unknown.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can new drug cocktails reawaken the immune system against melanoma?
- Could a Six-Month exercise and diet plan shield muscle during melanoma treatment?
- Quitting before the knife: which Stop-Smoking aid works best for cancer patients?
- Can a One-Two punch of immune boosters revive cancer treatment?
- Can a modified herpes virus turn the tide against advanced cancer?
- Can your genes predict your melanoma risk?