While DNA vaccines demonstrate promising immunogenicity, peptide vaccines, such as UV1, UCPVax, and Vx-001, have shown clinical efficacy in certain cancer types. Accordingly, we discuss the mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical data, and the potential of these vaccines to elicit robust and durable anti-tumor immune responses. This review highlights the potential of telomerase-based vaccines as a promising strategy for cancer treatment and identifies areas for future research.

Patients with pleural mesothelioma treated with nivolumab and ipilimumab with or without UV1 vaccine in the NIPU study were included. Elevated levels of certain cytokines, both before and after onset of treatment, correlate with specific irAEs in PM patients receiving ICIs. These cytokines may be used as biomarkers to predict and detect irAES.

P1/2, N=18, Completed, Ultimovacs ASA | Active, not recruiting --> Completed

P1/2, N=22, Completed, Ultimovacs ASA | Active, not recruiting --> Completed

P1/2, N=12, Completed, Ultimovacs ASA | Active, not recruiting --> Completed

P1/2, N=52, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Dec 2024 --> Dec 2025 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2024 --> Dec 2025

P1/2, N=35, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Dec 2024 --> Dec 2025 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2024 --> Dec 2025

P1, N=44, Recruiting, University of Pennsylvania | Phase classification: P1b --> P1

P1, N=30, Completed, Ultimovacs ASA | Active, not recruiting --> Completed | Trial completion date: Oct 2025 --> Jun 2024

P1/2, N=52, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Dec 2023 --> Dec 2024 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2023 --> Dec 2024

P1/2, N=35, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Dec 2023 --> Dec 2024 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2023 --> Dec 2024

P2, N=156, Completed, Ultimovacs ASA | Active, not recruiting --> Completed | Trial completion date: Jan 2026 --> Apr 2024 | Trial primary completion date: Apr 2024 --> Jan 2024

The FOCUS study aims to optimize treatment of R/M HNSCC patients with this promising new treatment approach. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05075122, identifier NCT05075122.

Indeed, this was associated with reduced levels of hTERT and CDK1 and shift in the cell cycle distribution. Our findings suggest that the TAM/FAV combination exhibits synergistic effects against TAMR-1 human breast cancer cells by targeting hTERT.

P1/2, N=52, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Dec 2022 --> Dec 2023 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2022 --> Dec 2023

P1/2, N=52, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Jun 2022 --> Dec 2022 | Trial primary completion date: Jun 2022 --> Dec 2022

We identified TP53-modulating drugs to be possibly effective in 20-26% of patients, followed by the Wnt signaling pathway inhibitors (15%), Telomelysin and INO5401 (13%), FHD-609 (13%), etc. According to our data, 67% of ACC patients exhibited genomic alterations that might be targeted by FDA-approved drugs or drugs being tested in current clinical trials. Although there are not many current therapy options directly targeting reported ACC alterations, this study identifies emerging options that could be tested in clinical trials.

P1/2, N=52, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Dec 2021 --> Jun 2022 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2021 --> Jun 2022

Mechanistically, knockdown indicates that ING1 and ING2 mediate AR-regulated transrepression. Thus, our data suggest an oppositional, biphasic function of AR to control the hTERT expression, while the inhibition of hTERT by androgens is mediated by the AR co-repressors ING1 and ING2.

Plasmid DNA-encoded hTERT/IL-12 DNA immunotherapy was well-tolerated, immune responses were noted across all tumor types, and a specific CD8+ phenotype increased by the immunotherapy was significantly correlated with survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.

P1/2, N=52, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Jun 2021 --> Dec 2021 | Trial primary completion date: Jun 2021 --> Dec 2021

P1/2, N=52, Active, not recruiting, Inovio Pharmaceuticals | Trial completion date: Jan 2021 --> Jun 2021 | Trial primary completion date: Jan 2021 --> Jun 2021