A Skin Cancer Vaccine May Be on the Horizon

Save this story Save Story Save this story A personalized mRNA vaccine may help reduce the risk of melanoma recurrence, a promising new study finds. According to Kavita Mariwalla , MD, a double board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the data is so exciting because “we’re seeing two complementary technologies working together." What distinguishes this personalized, mRNA-based vaccine from earlier cancer vaccines is that “it is not targeting melanoma broadly,” explains Dr. Mariwalla. "It is targeting the unique molecular signature of an individual patient’s tumor. In many ways, it represents one of the purest examples of precision medicine currently in clinical development." Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok , or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.