Abstract

Lung cancer vaccines: a review of three ongoing trials

Author(s): Sarah R Goodyear, Hossein Borghaei

Every year, carcinoma of the lung is responsible for more deaths than any other cancer, with an overall 5-year survival of less than 16%. Despite advances in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, recurrence rates are still high and outcomes are unacceptably poor. Novel approaches are currently being investigated and promising data exists to support the use of immunotherapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. We present a review of three current Phase III clinical trials using vaccines to target and treat non-smallcell lung cancer. Although these trials are still ongoing, they represent an important milestone in the treatment of this disease. We will discuss the identification of targets that are relevant to lung cancer and the promising results of these vaccines that have been obtained in early-phase trials.