A decade of therapeutic cancer vaccines in solid tumours: analysis of 86 clinical trials — 53% disease control, 18% objective responses

An analysis of 86 clinical trials published between 2015 and 2025, covering therapeutic cancer vaccines across all platforms (mRNA, DNA, peptide, dendritic cell, viral vector and whole tumour cell), gives the soberest picture of the field to date. Among 1588 patients with advanced disease the disease control rate was 53% and the objective response rate 18%; in the adjuvant setting, 52% of 461 patients experienced recurrence. ELISPOT-positive T-cell responses were seen in 67% of patients but did NOT correlate with clinical efficacy — evidence of immune activation therefore does not predict patient benefit. Adverse events were mostly mild to moderate (pyrexia, fatigue, injection-site reactions), and the authors conclude that these vaccines are safe and immunogenic but of limited efficacy as monotherapy, which argues for combination approaches.