Flu Shot Shrinks Tumors in 7 of 18 Melanoma Patients in Early Trial
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 8
Flu Shot Shrinks Tumors in 7 of 18 Melanoma Patients in Early Trial
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 8
Summary
Seven of 18 melanoma patients showed tumor regression after doctors injected a standard flu vaccine directly into skin tumors; three had no detectable cancer cells at surgery.
Ohio State researchers gave patients a regular flu shot in the arm, then two higher-dose tumor injections before surgery, aiming to trigger an immune attack by making the cancer site resemble an infection.
No serious side effects were reported, and tissue and blood tests showed immune activation, but the study had no comparison group and was presented as early-stage conference data.
The team is now testing repeated tumor injections with checkpoint drugs such as Keytruda and Opdivo in advanced melanoma, while other groups are trying the approach in skin and colorectal cancers.
The strategy could offer a cheap, off-the-shelf alternative to personalized cancer vaccines, though it is limited to tumors that can be reached with a needle or endoscope.