Patients with colorectal cancer can expect an increased likelihood of survival if they are given an autologous tumour-cell vaccine after surgery, compared with undergoing surgery alone, according to the results of a phase III study. The results of this European trial are more encouraging than the results of a similar, earlier trial conducted in the US. This may be due to greater quality control of the vaccine in the European study, suggested Dr Michael Hanna from Perimmune, Rockville, US, or to the addition of an additional booster dose. Dr Hanna presented the results of the trials at the IBC USA's 2nd Annual Meeting on ‘Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Cancer’ [San Diego, US; November 1996].