My Malignant Melanoma

A phase 2 trial of a new vaccine is under way, despite researchers saying they were going to give up on vaccines not so long ago as a result of their consistent failure in clinical trials after early promise.

Still,  Oncovex, (now catchily renamed as talimogene laherparepvec or T-VEC for short) seems to be looking good so far (early results are comparable to ipilimumab) - results of the phase III trial are due out later this year.

So, will SCIB1 or Oncovex break the mould? We will see. There have been so many failed MM vaccine contenders during the time since I was diagnosed, that I may be forgiven a little scepticism.

That commencing Phase 2 or even Phase III trials do not make something a cancer cure should be a lesson to those pushing quackery on the basis of at best weak Phase 1 trial evidence.

Labels: oncovex, scancell, SCIB1, T-VEC, talimogene laherparepvec, vaccine

CRUK report a surge in melanoma diagnoses in people in their fifties.

Labels: Malignant, Melanoma, Skin Cancer