Racotumomab vaccine : a maintenance therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The objective of this research was to analyze the safety and effectiveness of racotumomab (Vaxira) vaccine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In the advanced stage (IIB/ IV) of NSCLC, cancer may spread throughout lungs, to adjacent lymph nodes (tiny, bean-shaped organs that help fight infections) and to other distant organs of the body. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment (first-line treatment) given in this stage. However, various combinations of chemotherapy have failed to improve overall survival effectively. Recently, maintenance therapy (treatment designed to help the primary treatment to succeed) has been associated with favorable response in advanced NSCLC. 

In this study, racotumomab, a cancer vaccine was evaluated as a maintenance therapy in advanced stage NSCLC.

Overall, 176 NSCLC patients (stage IIIB/ IV) were enrolled in this clinical trial. All patients had received standard first-line treatment before this trial. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or racotumomab. The treatment consisted of 5 doses of either vaccine or placebo administered every 2 weeks.

The average overall survival was 8.23 months in racotumomab group compared to 6.8 months in placebo. Patients who received racotumomab vaccination had 27% reduced risk of progression of cancer following treatment. The average survival following racotumomab vaccination without progression of cancer (progression-free survival) was 5.3 months compared to 3.9 months in placebo.

Mild to moderate adverse events associated were burning (41.9%) and pain (33.7%) at the injection site of racotumomab, bone pain (18.6%) and weakness (16.3%).

The authors concluded that maintenance therapy with racotumomab vaccine is an effective and safe treatment option in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Talk to your physician about racotumomab vaccine as a possible maintenance therapy in advanced stage NSCLC.