Novel Cancer Vaccine Using Blood-Cleaning Technology Enters Phase 1 Trial for Ovarian Cancer
Key Insights
A Phase 1 clinical trial has begun testing a novel cancer vaccine (search) that uses the Mirasol process (search) to inactivate cancer (search) cells while preserving their immune-stimulating properties.
The trial involves eight patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (search) who will receive personalized vaccines created from their own tumor cells treated with UV light and riboflavin.
The approach aims to preserve neoantigens (search) that conventional treatments destroy, potentially offering a more effective way to stimulate immune responses against cancer (search).
A cancer vaccine (search) based on blood disinfection technology has entered its first human trial, marking a novel approach to cancer (search) immunotherapy. Ray Goodrich, a professor at Colorado State University, is leading a Phase 1 clinical trial this month to test the application of the Mirasol process (search) for treating ovarian cancer (search).
From Blood Safety to Cancer Treatment
The Mirasol process (search) was originally developed as a blood safety technology, using ultraviolet light and riboflavin (vitamin B2) to disinfect donated blood components. The method works by damaging the genetic material of pathogens, preventing them from multiplying while keeping them structurally intact. While approved in Europe and Canada, the technology has not yet received approval in the United States for blood disinfection.
Goodrich's journey began in the late 1980s as a graduate student researching blood disinfection methods during the HIV (search) contamination crisis. A decade later, he and colleagues developed the Mirasol process (search). The breakthrough for cancer (search) treatment came when Goodrich observed that white blood cells treated with the Mirasol process "become inactivated but remain structurally intact."
Creating "Cellular Zombies" for Immunity
The vaccine concept involves creating what researchers call "cellular zombies" from patients' own cancer (search) cells. After surgical tumor removal, researchers expose the cancer cells to riboflavin and UV light, add an immune-boosting adjuvant, and create a personalized vaccine. The UV-treated cancer cells cannot divide and form new tumors, addressing safety concerns.
The Phase 1 trial will enroll eight patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (search). Participants will receive the vaccine three times while researchers monitor for side effects and measure immune responses. Goodrich founded PhotonPharma (search) in 2018 to advance this technology, with preclinical testing already completed in mice and dogs.
Preserving Critical Immune Targets
Goodrich argues that conventional cancer (search) treatments destroy important immune-stimulating substances called neoantigens (search). "Harsher methods previously used to stop cancer cell proliferation, such as radiation therapy, caused cancer cells to lose their neoantigens," he explains. "The UV-based approach will be more effective because it preserves these potential immune-stimulating substances."
Dr. Lana Kandalaft, a cancer vaccine (search) expert at Ludwig Cancer Research (search)'s Lausanne branch, supports this approach. "Because the proposed vaccine contains the whole cancer (search) cell, it can deliver all of the tumor's neoantigens (search)—new proteins not found in healthy somatic cells—and the immune system can recognize them," she said.
Scientific Skepticism and Historical Context
Not all experts share this optimism. Dr. Lawrence Fong, an immunologist and oncologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, expressed skepticism based on historical precedent. "Attempts to develop vaccines using whole cancer (search) cells have a long history of failure," he said. "As a scientist, I have to say, 'We've been there, done that.'"
Professor Olivera Finn of the University of Pittsburgh highlighted another challenge: "Even if the vaccine activates immune cells, it will face the reality that the immune response is weakened because tumors are adept at blocking immune attacks."
Future Therapeutic Strategy
Goodrich acknowledges these challenges and positions his vaccine as part of combination therapy rather than a standalone treatment. "We hope that our vaccine, when used in combination with other therapies, can delay or prevent the recurrence of cancer (search)," he stated.
The trial represents a unique convergence of blood safety technology and cancer (search) immunotherapy, potentially offering a new avenue for personalized cancer treatment while addressing the limitations of previous whole-cell vaccine approaches.