Early research on pancreatic cancer vaccine

Researchers at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York conducted a small study (10 patients) in which a vaccine for pancreatic cancer was made from each patient's own tumor cells. After each patient had his/her cancerous tumor removed, a "custom" vaccine was created for each patient. The patient was then vaccinated. After two years, three patients were still alive; one has survived more than five years. Typically, 95% of people with pancreatic cancer die within two years after diagnosis. The researchers hope to conduct a larger study with more people to see if the vaccine can be effective.