Personalized mRNA vaccine shows promise in fighting melanoma return

NCT ID NCT03897881

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: ModernaTX, Inc. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 trial is testing whether adding a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine (mRNA-4157) to the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab can better prevent melanoma from coming back after surgery compared to pembrolizumab alone. The study involves 267 people with high-risk melanoma that has been completely removed. The vaccine is custom-made for each patient based on their tumor's genetic profile, aiming to train the immune system to recognize and attack any remaining cancer cells.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: personalized mRNA cancer vaccine (mRNA-4157) and pembrolizumab
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a more effective way to prevent melanoma from coming back after surgery, potentially improving long-term survival.
What could go wrong: This is an early phase 2 trial with only 267 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The vaccine is personalized, which makes it complex and expensive, and there is no guarantee it will outperform standard treatment.

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.

cutaneous melanoma melanoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

MELANOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Affinity Clinical Research

Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
Angeles Clinic and Research Institute

Santa Monica, California, 90404, United States
California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute -CPMCRI

San Francisco, California, 94115, United States
Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Hackensack University Medical Center

Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States
Lombardi Cancer Center

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20007, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Melanoma Institute Australia

North Sydney, New South Wales, 2060, Australia
NYU Langone Medical Center

New York, New York, 10016, United States
Northside Hospital

Atlanta, Georgia, 30342, United States
One Clinical Research Perth

Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center

Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
Princess Alexandra Hospital

Woolloongabba, Queensland, 4102, Australia
Providence Cancer Institute

Portland, Oregon, 97213, United States
Sarah Cannon Cancer Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States
St John of God Hospital Subiaco

Subiaco, Western Australia, 6008, Australia
Texas Oncology PA

Dallas, Texas, 75246, United States
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
University of Colorado Cancer Center

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
Westmead Hospital

Westmead, New South Wales, 2145, Australia

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