Peptide vaccine with glucopyranosyl lipid A–stable oil-in-water emulsion for patients with resected melanoma

We tested the safety and immunogenicity of a novel vaccine in patients with resected high-risk melanoma. HLA-A2-positive patients with resected Stage II–IV melanoma were randomized to receive up to three vaccinations of melanoma-associated peptide (MART-1a) combined with a stable oil-in-water emulsion (SE) either with the Toll-like receptor 4 agonist glucopyranosyl lipid A (GLA-SE–Schedule 1) or alone (SE–Schedule 2). Safety and immunogenicity of the vaccines were monitored. A total of 23 patients were registered. No treatment-related grade 3 or higher adverse events were observed. Increases in MART-1a-specific T cells were seen in 70 and 63% of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 patients, respectively. Both vaccine schedules were well-tolerated and resulted in an increase in MART-1a-specific T cells. NCT02320305 ( ).