Vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a time-to-event meta-analysis of phase II and III randomized controlled trials
In brief
Cancer vaccines fail to improve overall survival in new glioblastoma patients
A meta-analysis of five randomized trials involving 696 adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma found no overall survival or progression-free survival benefit from vaccine-based immunotherapy. However, patients who had gross total resection and received a vaccine cut death risk by half, and dendritic-cell vaccines modestly delayed progression. Larger head-to-head trials are still needed.
- Journal
- Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico (Q2)
- Published
- 25 July 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review / meta-analysis of RCTs
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1a)
- Authors
- Kwadwo Darko, Pearl Tenkorang, Godfred Junior Osei-Tutu, Olivia Asiedu, Marjidah Tahiru, Princess Nkrumah-Boateng, et al.
- PMID
- 42501205
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12094-026-04514-2
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Oncology and Radiation Oncology (top studies of the week, 26 July 2026): Meta‑analysis of vaccine immunotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma
- Picked for Immunology and Allergy (top studies of the week, 26 July 2026).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma remains highly lethal despite current standards, driving interest in vaccine-based immunotherapy to improve survival. Given variability in outcomes and uncertainty regarding optimal vaccine platforms, we conducted a time-to-event meta-analysis. METHODS: We conducted a database search for head-to-head phase II and III trials published through July 9, 2025, that assessed vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy in adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Pseudo-individual data were digitized and reconstructed with the IPDfromKM method from survival curves. Primary endpoints of this study were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD420251231284. RESULTS: Initial search yielded 1248 articles, of which 5 randomized trials (696 patients: 358 vaccine and 338 control) met inclusion. Mean age ranged from 56.6-61.6 years, and 53.7% of participants had a Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 90. In the primary analysis, vaccination did not significantly reduce the risk of death (HR 0.95; 95%CI 0.81-1.13) or disease progression (HR 0.96; 95%CI 0.82-1.12). In subgroup analyses, patients who underwent gross total resection and received vaccinations had improved OS compared with similarly resected controls (HR 0.50; 95%CI 0.31-0.81), and dendritic cell vaccines were associated with a PFS advantage (HR 0.73; 95%CI 0.56-0.96). CONCLUSION: In this study, vaccinations did not significantly improve survival in adult patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Gross total resection, however, seems to be associated with OS benefit of vaccinations. There is a need for more head-to-head clinical trials to supplement the available evidence.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.