Vaccines for Cancer

(VRiC Trial)

Overseen By E. John Wherry, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Disqualifiers: HIV, Organ transplant, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 46

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to study how different vaccines work in people with cancer. Researchers focus on the flu, COVID-19, and shingles vaccines to observe cancer patients' responses. People with cancer who need one or more of these vaccines and are not allergic to them might be suitable for this study. However, those with HIV or who have had organ or bone marrow transplants are not eligible. Participants will help scientists better understand vaccine effects in those with cancer. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures how well these vaccines work in an initial, smaller group of cancer patients, providing valuable insights into their effectiveness.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

A previous study found the flu vaccine safe for adults with cancer, as it did not increase emergency room visits or hospital stays. Research has also shown that the vaccine reduces deaths and improves infection-related outcomes. Data indicates that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with cancer, with no major safety concerns reported among patients with blood cancer. These vaccines also enhance patients' responses to treatments. The Shingles Vaccine has proven safe and effective, though some may experience mild to moderate reactions, such as soreness at the injection site. Overall, all three vaccines maintain strong safety records in people with cancer. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it aims to understand how patients with cancer respond to vaccines like influenza, recombinant shingles, and SARS-CoV2. Unlike traditional approaches that focus primarily on treating the cancer itself, this trial explores how these patients' immune systems react to vaccinations, which could lead to better protection against infections. This is particularly important because cancer patients often have weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infections. By identifying how well these vaccines work in cancer patients, the trial could pave the way for improved vaccination strategies, enhancing overall patient care.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cancer patients?

Research has shown that the flu vaccine, one of the vaccines studied in this trial, can lower the risk of death in cancer patients. Some studies found no flu-related deaths among vaccinated patients, while 4.3% of unvaccinated patients experienced such deaths. The COVID-19 vaccine, also under study in this trial, has improved cancer treatment outcomes, doubling survival rates in patients with certain cancers, such as advanced lung cancer. It also boosts the immune system, potentially enhancing the body's ability to fight cancer. The shingles vaccine, another part of this trial, effectively prevents shingles and its complications in adults, with success rates between 56.1% and 89.3%, particularly in those with weakened immune systems. These vaccines show promising effectiveness in protecting cancer patients and may aid in their overall treatment. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

E. John Wherry, PhD

Principal Investigator

Univeristy of Pennsylvania

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18, can consent, have cancer, and am willing to get vaccinated for flu, shingles, and COVID-19.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Vaccination

Participants receive influenza, recombinant shingles, and/or SARS-CoV2 vaccines

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for immune response and safety after vaccination

45-90 days

Blood draw between days 45-90

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Influenza vaccination
• Zoster Vaccine Recombinant
• SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Patients with Cancer Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Patients with cancer who are clinically indicated to receive influenza, recombinant shingles and/or SARS-CoV2 vaccine

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

425

Recruited

464,000+

Citations

1. acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.35574

Influenza vaccine effectiveness in immunocompromised ... Influenza vaccination may reduce overall mortality in immunocompromised patients with cancer. The results must be interpreted with caution ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8312520/

Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Patients With a History ... Overall, 63.8% of patients with a history of cancer and 43.3% without a history of cancer received the influenza vaccine during the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 ...

3. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00221-3/fulltext

Impact of influenza vaccination on survival of patients with ... ILI lethality was 2% overall: 0/51 (0%) in vaccinated vs. 2/47 (4.3%) in unvaccinated patients. The median follow-up for OS was of 20 months.

4. medrxiv.org medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.30.25321421v3

Effectiveness of the Influenza Vaccine During the 2024- ... This study found that influenza vaccination of working-aged adults was associated with a higher risk of influenza during the 2024-2025 respiratory viral season.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016344532500132X

High-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccine for ... Although high-dose influenza vaccine showed less frequency of clinical outcomes, data were not conclusive as few studies analysed clinical effectiveness.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9412390/

Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Patients ... Vaccination against influenza is safe, reduces mortality and improves infection-related outcomes among adults with cancer [11,12].

7. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40091-y

Active surveillance for adverse events of influenza vaccine ... Both cancer patients and the elderly are at high risk of developing flu complications, so influenza vaccination is recommended.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X24000239

The safety of seasonal influenza vaccination among adults ... Seasonal influenza vaccination was not associated with an increased incidence of ED visit or hospitalization among adults with cancer treated with ICI therapy.

9. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2018.36.15_suppl.e15073

Safety of influenza vaccination in patients undergoing ... The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center pharmacy database was queried for all advanced cancer pts who received the influenza vaccination within 60 days of ...