Research
Could a flu shot help fight skin cancer?
The Brief
- A small early trial injected an ordinary flu vaccine directly into skin cancer tumours.
- The trial suggests the injection may help rally the immune system against the cancer.
- The source reports early findings from a small study, not proven treatment results.
Why it matters
It is an early hint that an existing, widely used vaccine might be repurposed to boost immune responses against tumours, but small early trials need larger confirmation before any clinical change.
Who’s affected
- oncologists and cancer researchers
- immunology researchers
- patients with skin cancer and their clinicians
- #skin cancer
- #immunotherapy
- #flu vaccine
- #clinical trial
- #melanoma
Injecting an ordinary flu vaccine straight into skin cancer tumors may help rally the immune system against the cancer, a small early trial suggests.