Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Vaccines in Treating Metastatic Melanoma Using Immune Modulation

Abstract

Background: Metastatic melanoma remains a highly aggressive and treatment-resistant cancer. Cancer vaccines, combined with immune modulation, offer a promising therapeutic strategy for improving patient outcomes in metastatic melanoma. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer vaccines in treating metastatic melanoma through immune modulation, focusing on immune response enhancement and clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 146 patients with metastatic melanoma were enrolled from the Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute & Leiden University Medical Center, between January 2023 and June 2024. Patients received a cancer vaccine combined with immune modulation therapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Tumor samples were analyzed for tumor mutational burden (TMB), PD-L1 expression, and immune cell infiltration. Treatment response was monitored using clinical assessments, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The treatment group showed a 58% response rate, with 84 patients exhibiting tumor reduction (p-value = 0.01). PD-L1 expression ≥50% correlated with a 72% positive response (p-value = 0.02). TMB ≥10 was associated with a 65% response rate (p-value = 0.03). CD8+ T cell infiltration was higher in responders (mean ± SD: 45.7% ± 5.4% vs. 30.2% ± 7.2% in non-responders, p-value = 0.005). The standard deviation of treatment outcomes was calculated at ±12.3%, highlighting variability in patient response. Conclusion: Cancer vaccines combined with immune modulation demonstrate significant efficacy in treating metastatic melanoma, with TMB, PD-L1 expression, and immune cell infiltration being strong predictive biomarkers.