A study looking at 2 vaccines after surgery for melanoma skin cancer

This study looked at 2 vaccines, to see if they helped stop melanoma coming back in people who are at high risk of this happening.

Doctors usually treat melanoma skin cancer with surgery. This study looked at 2 vaccine treatments that may help to stop melanoma coming back after surgery.

Vaccines are a type of biological therapy called immunotherapy. They stimulate the immune system to recognise and kill cancer cells.

The vaccines in this study both used a protein called NY-ESO-1. In one vaccine, the protein was combined with something called ISCOMATRIX, which can stimulate the immune system. In the other vaccine, the protein was combined with a virus (which had been altered so that it could not cause disease). The researchers hoped that using 2 vaccines may cause the immune system to respond more.

The aims of this study were to

• Find out if these vaccines can cause an immune response

• Learn more about how safe they are and what the side effects are