Risk-reducing treatment study for melanoma opens in Oxford

An international clinical trial testing a novel cancer immunotherapy which may prevent skin cancer from recurring has opened in Oxford.

Eligible patients are being asked if they wish to join the V940-001 study at the Churchill Hospital as well as across the UK and overseas.

The mRNA-based technology in this study, is aimed at people who have already had high-risk melanomas removed.

The new Phase 3 clinical trial is evaluating the combination of mRNA-4157 (V940) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) versus a current standard of care (pembrolizumab) for patients with resected, high-risk, stage IIB to IV melanoma.

It follows a successful Phase 2 study which found that in patients with stage IIIB to IV resected melanoma this treatment option almost halved the risk of cancer recurrence or death after three years compared with treatment with Keytruda alone.

Dr Miranda Payne, the Principal Investigator in Oxford, said: “I am delighted to be able to offer this study to my patients. The trial represents an exciting opportunity in an era of increasingly personalised cancer medicine.”

For more information visit the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website.