GM-CSF-secreting melanoma cell vaccine

GM-CSF-secreting melanoma cell vaccine is an autologous cancer immunotherapy consisting of a patient's own melanoma cells that have been genetically engineered ex vivo to secrete human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF). The cells are typically transduced using an adenoviral or retroviral vector and then lethally irradiated to prevent proliferation while maintaining metabolic activity and antigen expression. Upon intradermal or subcutaneous administration, the locally secreted GM-CSF acts as a potent cytokine adjuvant, recruiting and activating professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells and macrophages, to the injection site. These APCs engulf the irradiated tumor cells, process a broad spectrum of autologous melanoma-associated antigens, and migrate to regional lymph nodes to prime and expand tumor-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. This process aims to generate a systemic, long-lasting immune response capable of targeting and destroying metastatic melanoma lesions throughout the body.

Brand names

GVAX

Other names

autologous GM-CSF-secreting melanoma cell vaccineMelanoma GVAXirradiated autologous GM-CSF-transduced melanoma cellsirradiated autologous melanoma cells adenovirally transduced with human GM-CSF gene