# Project 4: Translation and preclinical studies of a personalized pancreas cancer vaccine

> **NIH NIH P50** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $410,431

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The development of pancreatic cancer vaccines is an area of intense investigation and considerable yet
unfulfilled promise. The current paradigm is the development of pancreatic cancer vaccines targeting shared
tumor antigens. We propose a conceptually innovative new paradigm: development of personalized pancreatic
cancer vaccines targeting neoantigens.
We have studied the dynamic relationship between the immune system and cancer in detail, ultimately
proposing the cancer immunoediting hypothesis. Recently, we have focused on identifying the antigens
recognized by the immune system during cancer immunoediting, and in response to cancer immunotherapies
such as checkpoint blockade. These studies demonstrate that neoantigens are important tumor rejection
antigens, providing strong support for our neoantigen vaccine strategy.
We have developed, optimized and validated next-generation sequencing and epitope prediction algorithms to
identify and prioritize neoantigens, and will use these algorithms in the proposed clinical trial. Our initial clinical
experience targeting neoantigens in patients with melanoma confirms that neoantigen vaccines are capable of
generating neoantigen-specific T cell responses.
We will test the safety and immunogenicity of personalized DNA vaccines targeting pancreatic cancer
neoantigens in a phase 1 clinical trial. In parallel studies, we will test the ability of immune modulators to
enhance vaccine efficacy in preclinical models of minimal residual disease. These studies will provide the
rationale for phase 2 clinical trials of next generation personalized vaccines, and/or combination therapies.
Specific Aim 1: A phase 1 clinical trial of a personalized pancreatic cancer DNA vaccine strategy in
patients who have completed adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer.
Specific Aim 2: Test the ability of personalized pancreatic cancer DNA vaccines targeting CD8α+
dendritic cells to enhance antitumor immunity in a preclinical model of minimal residual disease.
Specific Aim 3: Test the ability of CCR2 inhibitors to enhance the response to personalized pancreatic
cancer vaccines in a preclinical model of minimal residual disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982237
- **Project number:** 5P50CA196510-05
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** William E. Gillanders
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $410,431
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982237

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982237, Project 4: Translation and preclinical studies of a personalized pancreas cancer vaccine (5P50CA196510-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982237. Licensed CC0.

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