Trial studies cancer vaccine-response link

LOS ANGELES, July 15 (UPI) -- The stronger the immune system's response the better the outcome in fighting brain cancer, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles said Tuesday.

Researchers conducted a clinical trial of a dentritic cell vaccine designed to fight malignant brain tumors to study the correlation between the strength of a patient's immune system response and a clinical outcome, the hospital said in a news release.

"Fifty-three percent of patients in our study exhibited a significant vaccine-enhanced immune response. Compared to non-responders or those with limited responses, the vaccine responders had significantly longer times to tumor progression and longer survival," said study author Dr. Keith L. Black, chairman of Cedars-Sinai's Department of Neurosurgery and director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute.

The study is believed to be the first to show a direct link between the strength and proportional relationship of anti-tumor responses and benefits in cancer patients, the author said. This also may be the first documentation of a definite immune response-patient outcome correlation that can be credited to tumor-altering treatments.