canvaxin + bacillus calmette–guérin

Canvaxin + bacillus calmette–guérin is a **combination therapy composed of an allogeneic melanoma cell vaccine (Canvaxin) and Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG)**, used as an investigational immunotherapeutic regimen. The Canvaxin component consists of irradiated human melanoma cells derived from multiple donors and acts as an antigen source to stimulate a patient’s immune response. BCG, an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, functions as an immunostimulatory adjuvant, enhancing both innate and adaptive immune activation and promoting a stronger antitumor response. The primary indication explored in clinical studies for this combination was **adjuvant therapy for advanced (stage IV) melanoma** following surgical resection. The mechanism leverages the synergy between tumor-associated antigens from Canvaxin and the innate immune-modulating adjuvant property of BCG, which is known to augment cell-mediated immune responses against cancer cells[1].

Brand names

Canvaxin

Other names

allogeneic melanoma vaccine + bacillus calmette–guérincanvaxin + BCG