Bold Progress to End Ovarian Cancer: How Vaccines are Changing the Future
- Kiran Dhillon
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Every September, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of the urgent need to improve outcomes with a new standard of care for people affected by this devastating disease. At the Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) at UW Medicine, we’re answering that call with bold innovation: developing vaccines that treat ovarian cancer, prevent its recurrence and even stop it before it starts.
We’re particularly excited to announce that our first Phase II clinical trial for an ovarian cancer vaccine will launch early 2026 for patients at the earliest signs of potential recurrence, before cancer is seen on imaging. This is a significant milestone in ovarian cancer research.
Why Ovarian Cancer Demands Our Attention
Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal gynecologic cancers, often diagnosed at advanced stages and historically underfunded compared to other cancers. Recent federal budget cuts have slashed ovarian cancer research funding from $45 million to just $15 million, threatening progress at a time when breakthroughs are within reach.
Vaccines That Treat & Prevent Ovarian Cancer
CVI is the largest academic research group in the U.S. dedicated to cancer vaccine development. Under the leadership of Dr. Nora Disis and Dr. John Liao, our multidisciplinary team is advancing four ovarian cancer vaccines through preclinical and clinical trials:
IGFBP-2 Vaccine:Â Targets a protein that drives metastasis. In a Phase I clinical trial involving patients with advanced-stage or recurrent ovarian cancer in complete remission, the results were nothing short of remarkable. The vaccine was shown to be safe, with only minor side effects similar to those of a flu shot. More importantly, it triggered a powerful immune response: over 50% of patients were alive eight years after vaccination and one-third of participants never experienced a recurrence. We are launching a Phase II trial in 2026 that will recruit up to 22 patients.
OVAC Vaccine: Targets four proteins linked to chemotherapy resistance and ovarian cancer metastasis. It has shown promise in mice and is being optimized for human trials using a novel gold-bead needle-less delivery method. Our goal is to launch a Phase I trial in the next three years.
STIC Vaccine:Â Designed to prevent ovarian cancer in high-risk individuals by targeting precancerous lesions called serious tubal interepithelial carcinoma (STIC) in the Fallopian tubes, which is where most ovarian cancers are thought to begin. We are optimizing the vaccine before testing the vaccine in mice.
STEMVAC Vaccine:Â A multi-cancer vaccine targeting proteins that promote metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. STEMVAC is already in Phase II trials for breast and lung cancer, and will soon be tested for ovarian cancer recurrence and prevention.
Jamie's Story
"I'm extremely grateful to be here 18 years after being diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer and 13 years after getting the CVI vaccine. Because I participated in the clinical trial, more women are going to be able to get the vaccine! It gives me so much hope that there is a vaccine for this deadly disease - most women aren't here 5 years after their diagnosis. I'm still here!"
Jamie Crase Ovarian Cancer IGFBP-2 Vaccine Recipient Watch more about Jamie’s story
At age 34, Jamie Crase was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer — a diagnosis that came with a daunting five-year survival rate of just 31%. She underwent aggressive treatment at UW Medicine and Fred Hutch and then enrolled in CVI’s clinical trial for the IGFBP-2 ovarian cancer vaccine. The vaccine, designed to train the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, gave Jamie something she hadn’t dared to hope for: time. Today, Jamie is 52 years old. She’s not only surviving — she’s thriving.
Jamie has become a passionate advocate for ovarian cancer research and awareness, sharing her story to inspire others and support the development of new treatments. Her journey fuels our commitment to bringing these breakthroughs to more patients, faster.
On the Horizon - A Phase II Clinical Trial
While most ovarian cancers can be treated effectively initially, most patients tend to have a recurrence of their cancer. What if we could eliminate recurrence at the earliest possible sign, even before any cancer is seen on scans? We are months away from launching a phase II clinical trial for our IGFBP-2 vaccine that is designed to do just that. Patients who show the earliest signs of a recurrence — an increase in blood CA-125 but no cancer on scans — will receive the IGFBP-2 vaccine at regular intervals and will be monitored by scans. The study, led by Dr. John Liao, is expected to open in early 2026.
Hope, Powered by Breakthroughs
"Supporting research in our own backyard is critical in this time of fast knowledge and underfunding. Just knowing that clinical trials are happening through the CVI at UW—trials we can potentially be a part of if ever needed—is so reassuring. With Dr. Disis leading the charge, I am certain that cancer vaccines will save people I love very soon. Having lost my mom prematurely to the devastating disease of ovarian cancer, I carry a deep passion for funding research that brings us closer to a cure."
- Katerie Laughlin Schei
Together, We can End Ovarian Cancer
The advances we are currently making on ovarian cancer are a culmination of almost two decades of meticulous work. Today, ovarian cancer vaccines are poised to transform care for patients and those at highest risk. But we can’t do it alone. With federal funding in jeopardy, philanthropic support is more critical than ever to continue our momentum and ensure these vaccines reach the patients who need them.
Join us in making ovarian cancer history. Learn more, get involved, and support our work at https://www.uwcvi.org/donate-now.