Breakthrough ‘Off-the-Shelf’ Cancer Vaccine Shows Early Success in Extending Lives
Early trial results suggest new vaccine ELI-002 could become a game-changer for pancreatic and colorectal cancer treatment.
A new experimental cancer vaccine is offering fresh hope for patients with two of the deadliest cancers – pancreatic and colorectal.
Researchers say early results from a Phase I trial show the vaccine, called ELI-002, is safe, stimulates a strong immune response, and could significantly extend survival times.
What Is ELI-002?
Type: Peptide-based therapeutic cancer vaccine
Target: KRAS gene mutations, which fuel cancer cell growth in up to 25% of solid tumours
Focus cancers: Pancreatic and colorectal cancers, where these mutations are most common
Key difference: Unlike traditional personalised vaccines, ELI-002 is designed to work for the majority of patients with KRAS mutations without customisation.
The vaccine works by training the immune system’s T cells to attack and destroy cancer cells carrying mutated KRAS proteins.
The Phase I Trial: How It Worked
The initial trial involved 25 patients:
20 with pancreatic cancer
5 with colorectal cancer
All had completed standard treatments but still showed signs of residual cancer cells in their blood – a warning sign for likely recurrence.
Treatment plan:
Six doses of ELI-002 2P, administered near the lymph nodes
Half the group also received booster doses
Promising Results
The trial’s findings, published in Nature Medicine, showed:
85% of patients developed an immune response to the two targeted KRAS mutations
67% also developed immunity to other KRAS proteins, suggesting broader protection
Pancreatic cancer patients survived an average of 29 months
They remained cancer-free for 15 months on average – significantly longer than historical averages for similar patients
Those with the strongest immune responses had even better outcomes
Lead researcher Professor Zev Wainberg from UCLA said:
“If confirmed in larger trials, this vaccine could potentially be used in 90% of pancreatic cancer cases and 50% of colon cancers with this mutation.”
Why This Matters for Cancer Treatment
Unlike preventive vaccines for infections, cancer vaccines are therapeutic – they are designed to help the body’s immune system fight cancer cells and prevent recurrence.
Pancreatic and colorectal cancers are notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat. Survival rates have remained stubbornly low for decades, especially when cancer returns after treatment.
If ELI-002 proves successful in larger trials, it could become a widely available “off-the-shelf” option for thousands of patients worldwide.
The Next Steps
Researchers have already launched a Phase II trial using an updated version – ELI-002 7P – which targets an even wider range of KRAS mutations
This larger study has finished enrolling participants, and results are expected in 2026
If results remain positive, regulatory approval could follow within a few years
A Cautious but Exciting Future
Experts stress that Phase I trials are not meant to confirm a treatment’s effectiveness – only its safety and early signals of benefit.
However, the strong immune responses and longer-than-expected survival times seen so far are giving doctors hope that we are entering a new era for cancer vaccines.
References:
Wainberg, Z. et al., Nature Medicine, 2025.
University of California, Los Angeles – Gastrointestinal Oncology Programme.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
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