Personalized DNA vaccine shows promise against glioblastoma ^{CEFR B2}

A phase 1 trial reports that GNOS-PV01, a personalized DNA vaccine, is safe and shows promise against the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma. The study was conducted at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and in collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis Medicine, and the findings appear in Nature Cancer. Geneos Therapeutics developed the vaccine with partners including Mass General Brigham and university collaborators.

GNOS-PV01 uses engineered DNA to prime a patients immune system to recognise neoantigens, proteins unique to each tumour. The platform can activate responses to as many as 40 tumour proteins, about twice the number targeted by prior cancer vaccines. The team used an algorithm from the university to select neoantigens from different tumour regions, and the vaccine is intended to turn so-called "cold" tumours into immune-responsive "hot" tumours.

Nine adults recently diagnosed with glioblastoma enrolled. Each vaccine was made during recovery and radiation; injections began on average ten weeks after surgery and were given every three weeks for a nine-week period, then every nine weeks as long as patients continued. All participants except one taking an immune-suppressing steroid showed increased immune-cell activity. Clinical outcomes compared favourably with historical results: two-thirds had no progression at six months, two-thirds survived one year, and one-third were alive after two years, roughly double the historical rate for a similar group. One participant remains alive and recurrence-free nearly five years after diagnosis.

Researchers say the next steps are larger studies to test efficacy, to expand use to other glioblastoma types, and to explore combination therapies. Funding came from several foundations and NIH sources, and Geneos Therapeutics supported development and monitoring.