Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Ovarian cancer vaccine trials and tribulations.

Buckanovich RJ

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology-Oncology and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. ronaldbu@umich.edu

Solid tumor vaccine therapy is coming of age. After years of failures, setbacks and negative trials, the first positive trials of antitumor vaccines in humans are being seen. Antitumor vaccine trials have reported an improvement in progression-free survival in breast cancer and an overall survival advantage in prostate cancer. Although, to date no positive Phase III antitumor vaccines trials in ovarian cancer have been reported, recent great strides have been made in improving tumor vaccine target antigens, improving antigen presentation and understanding the mechanisms of immunosuppression associated with tumors. In addition, biological therapies are now being identified that may enhance the efficacy of tumor vaccines. This review summarizes recent trials of ovarian cancer vaccines and addresses future directions to improve vaccine efficacy.

Published 7 December 2006 in Expert Opin Biol Ther, 7(1): 103-12.
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