11/13/2025
Pancreatic cancer has long been one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat, with fewer than 10% of patients surviving beyond five years. But the tide is beginning to turn. Through innovative research, advanced clinical trials and unprecedented collaboration, new treatments are bringing genuine hope to patients and families.
A new clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center tested a personalized mRNA vaccine designed from each patient’s tumor, given alongside standard surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
Of the 16 patients in the trial, half developed strong immune responses. Among these responders, cancer recurrence was rare even 3.2 years later, while most non-responders experienced disease return. Researchers noted that preserving the spleen during surgery appeared to improve vaccine effectiveness, highlighting the organ’s role in immune function.
Though still early, this study demonstrates that mRNA vaccines can generate lasting anti-tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer, offering a potential new path for treatment. Larger trials are underway to confirm these promising results.
Source/Credit: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Nature DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08508-4
