Melanoma vaccine using mRNA technology on the horizon

Moderna says it was progressing research to develop a preventative shot against the recurrence of melanoma in treated patients.

Medical oncologist and co-medical director at the Melanoma Institute Australia Professor Georgina Long described the announcement as "another leap forward" for cancer research.

"This is the world's first positive demonstration that you can use mRNA and a personalised vaccine to reduce the risk of recurrence and to improve patient outcomes with cancer," she said.

Professor Long also worked on the trials as an investigator and is on the advisory committee for the vaccine's next trials.

Moderna reported positive results from a recent clinical trial, combining its vaccine with Keytruda, an immunotherapy from pharmaceutical company Merck.

The mid-stage, randomised clinical trial involved 157 patients with stage III/IV resected melanoma and surgically removed tumours, who were at high risk of recurrence.

Some received a vaccine-Keytruda combination and others Keytruda alone.

"The mRNA vaccines were based on their tumours, so everybody's vaccine was different," Professor Long said.

mRNA vaccines teach cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response in our bodies, producing antibodies that protect us from a specific germ in the future.

The companies announced that the patient group with the vaccine-Keytruda combination had a 44 per cent reduction in the risk of cancer returning or death.

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"We know standard immunotherapy alone is much better than giving no drug therapy and only five years ago, that was the standard," Professor Long said.

Federal government figures estimate that nearly 18,000 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in 2022.

This is an estimated 11 per cent of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2022.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the companies were moving very quickly onto the next phase of the study, with intentions to expand to other tumour types.

But the message is clear with the potential vaccine not working as a preventative measure against melanoma for previously undiagnosed Australians.

"People have to do things that prevent melanoma in this country and that is hat, sunglasses, good clothing, seek shade and sunscreen," Professor Long said.