Custom-Made vaccine takes on tough cancers in early trial

NCT ID NCT04266730

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early-phase trial tests a personalized vaccine (PANDA-VAC) made from a patient's own tumor markers, given alongside the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab. It includes up to 6 people with advanced squamous cell lung cancer or head and neck cancer that cannot be cured. The main goal is to check safety, not yet to see if it works.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Personalized neoantigen peptide vaccine (PANDA-VAC) plus pembrolizumab

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a more personalized immunotherapy approach for advanced squamous cell lung and head/neck cancers.

What could go wrong

This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 6 participants, focused on safety, not effectiveness. The study is currently suspended, and personalized vaccines are complex and may not work for everyone.

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.

Head and Neck Neoplasms head and neck squamous cell carcinoma lung neoplasm non-small cell squamous lung carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck squamous cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States