Recruiting

Immune-boosting vaccine to prevent melanoma recurrence after surgery

Plain-English translation of NCT01898039 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated October 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a treatment called the , which is designed to teach your immune system to recognize and attack melanoma cells. The vaccine uses specially engineered melanoma cells that have been modified to be more visible to your body's defenses. The idea is that by training your immune system against these cells, it will also attack any remaining melanoma that might be hiding in your body.

After surgery removes a melanoma tumor, there is often a significant risk that the cancer will return, either from cells left behind or from cancer that spreads later. This trial exists to see whether this new treatment can help prevent that recurrence by strengthening your immune system's ability to find and destroy any remaining melanoma cells.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with melanoma and had surgery to remove the tumor
you are now cancer-free or have only very small amounts of disease remaining
your melanoma is considered high-risk for coming back
you carry certain tissue types (HLA markers) that make you eligible—about half of melanoma patients qualify
you are in good general health with a Karnofsky performance status above 80 (able to do normal activities with some effort)

You likely don't qualify if…

you have had chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the past 4 weeks
you have active brain metastases (melanoma spread to the brain) that require steroid treatment
you have another active cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancers or early-stage prostate cancer)
you have an active serious infection, HIV, or chronic hepatitis B or C
you are pregnant, nursing, or unwilling to use contraception during treatment

What participation looks like

You would first have a sensitization period where a special chemical is applied to your arm on two days. About two weeks later, you receive a low dose of a chemotherapy drug () by IV, followed by injections of the vaccine into your arm or leg. You then receive four additional vaccine doses spaced 21 days apart. The entire treatment course takes several months, with visits to the clinic for each injection and monitoring.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 12, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Israel

Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem