PERSONALISED NEOANTIGEN CANCER
VACCINES: A PATIENT GUIDE
Prepared by the CancerFax oncology navigation team. Updated regularly based on treatment access and clinical availability.
What Personalised Neoantigen Cancer Vaccines Are
A neoantigen is a small protein fragment that appears on cancer cells because of a mutation in the tumour’s DNA. Healthy cells do not carry that exact sequence, so neoantigens act as a unique “fingerprint” that the immune system can be trained to recognise. A personalised neoantigen vaccine is built around these patient-specific fingerprints. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent infection, this is a therapeutic vaccine intended to teach the immune system to attack cancer cells already in the body. Most personalised neoantigen vaccines today fall into two main formats: These vaccines are typically given alongside immune checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, which release the brakes on the immune system so the vaccine-trained T cells can act more effectively.
mRNA vaccines that deliver genetic instructions for the sele
mRNA vaccines that deliver genetic instructions for the selected neoantigens, prompting the patient’s own cells to display them
Peptide vaccines that deliver the neoantigen fragments direc
Peptide vaccines that deliver the neoantigen fragments directly, usually combined with an immune adjuvant
How These Vaccines Are Made
The process is technically demanding, which is one reason this remains a specialised, mostly trial-based therapy. Manufacturing typically takes six to ten weeks, which is an important practical factor for patients whose disease is progressing quickly.
Tumour tissue collection — a fresh biopsy or surgical specim
Tumour tissue collection — a fresh biopsy or surgical specimen is needed, along with a matched blood sample.
Sequencing — tumour and normal cells are compared using whol
Sequencing — tumour and normal cells are compared using whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing to identify cancer-specific mutations.
Neoantigen prediction — computational tools predict which mu
Neoantigen prediction — computational tools predict which mutated proteins are most likely to trigger a strong immune response, taking the patient’s HLA type into account.
Vaccine design and manufacture — a personalised set of targe
Vaccine design and manufacture — a personalised set of targets, often 20 to 40 neoantigens, is built into a single vaccine.
Administration — the vaccine is given as a series of injecti
Administration — the vaccine is given as a series of injections over several months, usually alongside checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Who May Be Suitable
Eligibility depends on the trial protocol and the treating team’s assessment. Common factors include: These vaccines are usually not suitable for patients with rapidly progressing disease who cannot wait several weeks for manufacturing, or for patients without enough tumour tissue available for sequencing.
Confirmed cancer type matching trial criteria (commonly mela
Confirmed cancer type matching trial criteria (commonly melanoma, NSCLC, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, kidney cancer, and selected others)
Stage and current disease status
Stage and current disease status
Availability of fresh or recent tumour tissue
Availability of fresh or recent tumour tissue
Adequate tumour mutation burden in some protocols
Adequate tumour mutation burden in some protocols
Previous treatment history and response
Previous treatment history and response
Organ function and performance status
Organ function and performance status
Absence of active autoimmune disease in many protocols
Absence of active autoimmune disease in many protocols
Ability to wait through the manufacturing window
Ability to wait through the manufacturing window
Documents Usually Required for Review
The strength of the medical review depends heavily on the completeness of these records.
Latest medical summary and diagnosis report
Latest medical summary and diagnosis report
Pathology and IHC reports
Pathology and IHC reports
NGS or whole-exome sequencing report, if available
NGS or whole-exome sequencing report, if available
HLA typing report, if available
HLA typing report, if available
PET CT, CT, or MRI reports
PET CT, CT, or MRI reports
Recent blood work, including liver and kidney function
Recent blood work, including liver and kidney function
Tumour marker reports, where relevant
Tumour marker reports, where relevant
Full treatment history with dates, cycles, and response
Full treatment history with dates, cycles, and response
Surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy summaries
Surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy summaries
Information on availability of biopsy block or fresh tissue
Information on availability of biopsy block or fresh tissue
Current medicines and the treating doctor’s latest opinion
Current medicines and the treating doctor’s latest opinion
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax supports patients exploring neoantigen vaccine options through a structured pathway:
Case review — the team reviews diagnosis, treatment history,
Case review — the team reviews diagnosis, treatment history, and current status to understand whether this category of therapy is realistic.
Trial mapping — relevant active trials in countries such as
Trial mapping — relevant active trials in countries such as China, the United States, Germany, and others are identified based on cancer type and eligibility.
Pre-screening support — reports are shared with appropriate
Pre-screening support — reports are shared with appropriate trial teams or hospitals for structured feedback.
Logistics planning — patients receive guidance on tissue req
Logistics planning — patients receive guidance on tissue requirements, expected timelines, costs, travel, and stay duration.
Coordination and follow-up — CancerFax supports admission co
Coordination and follow-up — CancerFax supports admission communication, interpreter needs, and post-treatment continuity.
Where This May Be Available
Active neoantigen vaccine trials and programmes are currently running in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and Australia, with ongoing studies in melanoma (including adjuvant settings after surgery), pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, kidney cancer, and selected lung cancers. Availability differs sharply between centres, and the same cancer type may have different eligibility rules at different hospitals. CancerFax helps patients identify the most relevant pathway based on diagnosis, prior treatment, and ability to travel rather than choosing a centre by name alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions from patients and families.
Are personalised neoantigen cancer vaccines approved?
For most cancers, no. Most remain in clinical trials. Some have shown encouraging results in melanoma and pancreatic cancer studies, but approval as standard treatment is limited. Eligibility, access, and approval status vary by country and may change over time. Patients should view this as an emerging option that requires specialist review and, in most cases, trial-based access.
Which cancers are these vaccines being studied in?
Trials currently focus on melanoma, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer, head and neck cancer, and certain other solid tumours. Some early studies also include colorectal and bladder cancer. Eligibility within each cancer type varies based on stage, prior treatment, mutation profile, and tissue availability.
Do I need NGS testing before applying?
NGS or whole-exome sequencing is part of the vaccine design process and is usually performed by the trial team. However, prior NGS, IHC, and complete pathology reports help with initial eligibility assessment. Patients without an NGS report can still be reviewed; the trial team will perform the sequencing needed for vaccine manufacturing if the patient is accepted.
How long does the treatment take?
After initial screening and biopsy, vaccine manufacturing typically takes six to ten weeks. Once ready, the vaccine is given as multiple doses over several months, often alongside checkpoint inhibitors. Total treatment duration ranges from around six months to over a year, depending on the protocol and response.
Can CancerFax confirm I will be accepted into a trial?
No. Trial acceptance depends on the screening team, eligibility criteria, available slots, and the patient’s clinical condition at screening. CancerFax helps patients prepare and submit the strongest possible case for review but does not promise admission. Honest expectation-setting is part of how CancerFax supports families through this process.
What happens if I am not eligible?
If a patient is not eligible for a neoantigen vaccine trial, CancerFax helps explore other relevant options based on the diagnosis — such as approved immunotherapies, targeted therapy after molecular testing, CAR T-cell therapy where applicable, or different clinical trials. The goal is to find a medically appropriate next step, not to push any single therapy.
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Need Help Understanding Your Options?
If you or a family member is exploring personalised neoantigen vaccines, CancerFax can help organise the medical records, assess whether this category of treatment is realistic for your case, and connect the case with suitable trial teams or hospitals. Share your reports to receive structured guidance before making travel or treatment decisions. CTAs: Share Your Reports | Request a Second Opinio
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.