Cancer vaccine trial to go ahead 

Trials of a melanoma vaccine will begin in New Zealand next year as experts attempt to tackle the country's extreme skin cancer rate.

Research by melanoma specialist Richard Martin shows New Zealand has the worst rate in the world for melanoma, which kills about 250 people a year, The Press reports.

Martin says surgery is preferred over often ineffectual chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but specialists are working on alternative treatment such as a vaccine.

Immunologist Ian Hermans, from Wellington's Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, says studies have shown vaccines can be effective in fighting skin cancer and can in some cases eliminate cancer.

Research is promising, but needs more testing in larger groups of patients, he says.

International trials for a new melanoma vaccine are due to begin in in January, and will include a trial in Auckland involving people from across the country.

Martin says he hopes New Zealand researchers can also develop a vaccine soon.

He says New Zealand has harsh sunlight with a thin ozone layer and little pollution, along with a large population of fair skin people - a recipe for skin cancer.

He will present his research at a world conference next year.

International experts are in Wellington this week for the first melanoma summit to examine ways to tackle the country's skin cancer problem.