{"title":"My personalized mRNA cancer vaccine: an n=1 story","summary":"My experience exploring a one-person, or n=1, personalized mRNA cancer vaccine for lung cancer: the design, cost, decisions and unknowns.","body":"I’m working on a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine for one person: me. I have stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer, and I want to explore whether my immune system can be taught to recognize my cancer alongside my existing treatment.\n\nI sometimes call this an n=1 or 1:1 cancer vaccine project: one design being developed for one person. Those terms describe my individual project, not a clinical trial or proof of benefit. Personalized cancer vaccines can also be studied in trials that enroll many people.\n\nThis is experimental. A vaccine design is not evidence that it will work, and my experience is not a treatment plan for anyone else.\n\n## Where things stand\n\nAs of November 2026, Serova has designed a vaccine for me at no charge. I have not committed to Serova, paid for the vaccine or proceeded with manufacturing. I’m waiting for my upcoming CT scan before deciding whether to move forward.\n\nThe design has 25 targets. Design, manufacturing, permission to treat and actually receiving a vaccine are separate steps. I’ll update this page as decisions are made.\n\n## Why I started\n\nI was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2024. My first targeted drug eventually stopped working, and I switched to lorlatinib. In October 2026, I said my latest scan showed no growth. I know that can change, and I wanted to explore options before I had to make the next decision in a hurry.\n\nSeeing Sid Sijbrandij share his own experience pushed me to take a more active role in mine. I started asking what it would take to create something tailored to my cancer. My hope is that a vaccine could help my immune system recognize cancer cells and potentially add to the benefit of my current treatment. Whether it can do that is unknown.\n\n## How the design works\n\nA treatment vaccine is intended to help the immune system recognize cancer. It is different from a vaccine that prevents an infection that can cause cancer.\n\nThe Serova team looked at sequencing from my tumor and normal cells and used computer models and human review to select 25 targets for a personalized design. The idea is for mRNA to provide instructions that help my immune system learn to recognize those targets. A predicted target is a starting point, not proof that the immune system will respond or that the cancer will shrink.\n\nThe design used information from my January 2026 biopsy. I also tried to get more information from a later sample, but there was not enough tumor in the tissue for BostonGene to read. That matters because cancer can change over time. I’m considering whether another biopsy could provide a more current picture.\n\n## What I’m weighing\n\nThe timing is difficult. Starting while my cancer is stable might offer a different opportunity than waiting until it grows. Waiting could allow newer information or access to other treatments. I do not know which choice will turn out better.\n\nThere is also the cost. In November 2026, I described the vaccine I was considering as roughly $200,000. That was a decision estimate, not a payment or a complete accounting of every possible expense. The price of an individual project can depend on what is included. Testing, administration, monitoring and travel may add costs.\n\nAnother question is clinical trials. An investigational vaccine could affect eligibility for some studies, so the trial teams and my doctors need to weigh in before I decide. An immune response would also be different from a meaningful change on a scan or longer disease control.\n\n## What would happen next\n\nThe proposed route is single-patient expanded access. My doctor, the company, an institutional review board and the FDA each have roles in that process. Access is not guaranteed. Permission to proceed would not mean the FDA had found this vaccine safe and effective for my use.\n\nIf I proceed, the plan would involve manufacturing, clinical review, a series of doses and follow-up. I would want to understand side effects and measure what happens using agreed tests and scans. Those are plans, not completed results.\n\n## What this means for you\n\nI’m sharing this because it is hard to find a clear account of what pursuing a one-person vaccine actually involves. My circumstances, resources and decisions will not be the same as yours. Bring questions about evidence, risks, costs, trial eligibility and access to your own cancer team.\n\n[Read my practical guide to personalized cancer vaccines](/cancer/resources/cancer-vaccines/).","topics":["emerging-research"],"capabilities":[],"sources":[{"id":"original","label":"My personalized cancer vaccine project","url":"https://x.com/kevinace/status/2110478875692302392","publisher":"Kevin Wimer on X","checkedAt":"2026-11-05","supports":"First-person October account, read in supplied redacted X export; a dated snapshot, not clinical evidence.","type":"experience"},{"id":"decision","label":"My vaccine decision and tradeoffs","url":"https://x.com/kevinace/status/2117315804328841615","publisher":"Kevin Wimer on X","checkedAt":"2026-11-05","supports":"November 2 decision snapshot, estimated cost and planned scan, as transcribed in supplied export.","type":"experience"},{"id":"biopsy","label":"My biopsy and vaccine design","url":"https://x.com/kevinace/status/2118010392291230040","publisher":"Kevin Wimer on X","checkedAt":"2026-11-05","supports":"Biopsy basis and consideration of another biopsy, as described in supplied export.","type":"experience"},{"id":"fda","label":"Expanded access information for patients","url":"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/expanded-access/expanded-access-information-patients","publisher":"US Food and Drug Administration","checkedAt":"2026-11-05","supports":"Investigational access, roles, risks and conditions.","type":"official"}],"applicability":"For patients and families interested in one person’s experience exploring an investigational cancer vaccine.","limitations":"Personal account and dated plans, not clinical evidence, a treatment recommendation, or confirmation of current manufacturing, authorization or dosing status.","disclosure":{"type":"none","text":"Serova designed my vaccine at no charge. I have no investment, advisory role, paid partnership or other business relationship with Serova."},"reviewedAt":"2026-11-05","relatedIds":["966ad3d5-e20a-40de-ba3d-cb072e57ebef","12bb93ae-bd4e-4cca-ba12-fd8f16015355","45dd3750-3fe0-4621-9723-fc49fdeaffc2"],"assetIds":["67b0cabe-48ef-4c62-ba9d-f03ec48e3317","d2a58fee-fd66-4d25-8140-6821a6f041cb"],"artworkBrief":"A personal research notebook with layered paper forms suggesting a bespoke vaccine design and a path of careful decisions, warm ivory, charcoal and orange editorial cutouts.","relatedX":[],"facts":[],"id":"3e5afd7d-fec9-4888-bea2-aec491b71a2d","kind":"resource","slug":"my-personalized-cancer-vaccine","revision":"5d9a69a8-ead6-4cb9-b59e-98665da52621","canonicalUrl":"https://kevinwimer.com/cancer/resources/my-personalized-cancer-vaccine/","publishedAt":"2026-11-06T01:59:03.599Z","updatedAt":"2026-11-06T01:59:03.599Z","previewOnly":false,"illustrationAssetId":"67b0cabe-48ef-4c62-ba9d-f03ec48e3317","shareImageAssetId":"d2a58fee-fd66-4d25-8140-6821a6f041cb"}