Should You Get a Cancer Vaccine?

Though they may seem like something from the future, these five cancer vaccines are available now. Here are details about who is eligible for them.

Over the past year, you may have heard about an experimental vaccine for pancreatic cancer . The news is good: The immunotherapy—meant to get the immune system to fight the illness—appears to cause a strong immune response in some people.

Like most cancer vaccines, though, it has a long way to go before it's approved. But several others are already available, and experts are hopeful about the future. "For many of us working in the field, it's been decades of believing in this approach and often things not working as well as we'd like," says Craig Slingluff, MD, a professor of surgery at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. "But now, cancer vaccines are exciting again."

Here are five vaccines that are available now.

For Liver Cancer

Between 50 and 75 percent of liver cancer cases worldwide are caused by infections, usually hepatitis B, according to Christina Annunziata, MD, the American Cancer Society's senior vice president of extramural discovery science. The hepatitis B vaccine is at least 80 percent effective at preventing the infection.

Who is it for? Anyone under age 60 and those 60 and older with hepatitis B risk factors such as chronic liver disease. Only about 20 percent of those over 60 have received the series of shots. Talk with your doctor to find out if you're eligible .

For Bladder Cancer

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, originally a vaccine for tuberculosis, can also stimulate the immune system to fight some kinds of bladder cancer.

A 2020 Cochrane review found that BCG reduced its recurrence more than chemotherapy.

Who is it for? People with early-stage cancer that's limited to the bladder lining. But shortages of the treatment are common, so Larry Fong, MD, a professor of medicine at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, suggests seeking a urologist or an oncologist who treats a lot of people with bladder cancer. Ask if they have access to BCG treatment and whether it might be right for you.

For Melanoma

A series of shots of what's called T-VEC delivers deactivated herpes virus directly into melanoma lesions in the skin or lymph nodes. T-VEC infects the cells of this serious form of skin cancer, encouraging the immune system to kill them.

Who is it for? People whose melanoma persistently recurs after being surgically removed, says Joshua Veatch, MD, an assistant professor in the translational science and therapeutics division at Fred Hutchinson.

For Prostate Cancer

Provenge (sipuleucel-T) is created by exposing the immune cells of someone with prostate cancer to a protein that "teaches" them to fight the malignant cells. The immune cells are then returned to the person via infusion. Clinical trials suggest that this extends overall survival by an average of about 4 months, which is modest but similar to other treatments for advanced prostate cancer, Fong says.

Who is it for? Men with prostate cancer that's resistant to hormone therapy and shows signs of spreading. Researchers are looking at potential benefits of the vaccine for earlier-stage prostate cancer, too.

For Cervical and Other HPV-Associated Cancers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV) causes about 37,800 cases of cancer each year in the U.S., particularly cervical and oropharyngeal cancers. Vaccines for HPV can prevent more than 90 percent of cancers caused by this virus.

Who is it for? The HPV vaccine is most effective when it's given before a person has any exposure to HPV, which is why two doses are recommended for children ages 11 to 12, spaced 6 to 12 months apart. People who start the vaccine series between ages 15 and 26 need three doses over the course of 6 months. If you're between the ages of 27 and 45, you also have the option to receive the shot if you haven't before. Talk with your doctor about whether you might benefit from it.

What's on the Horizon

A lot of current research is focused on personalized vaccines. Because of better gene sequencing technology, it's now becoming easier to identify unique mutations in a person's cancer and create a vaccine to target them, Veatch says. These methods are being investigated for melanoma, lung cancer, colon cancer, and more.

If you have cancer, you may want to try to access an experimental vaccine by joining a clinical trial. At clinicaltrials.gov , you can search for treatments being studied for your kind of cancer. If you're not sure you're eligible, call the number listed for the trial anyway, Slingluff advises. Even if you don't qualify, the researchers may be able to refer you to an appropriate trial or they may have another one starting soon.

's Note: A version of this also appeared in the July 2024 issue of Consumer Reports On Health .

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