A new experimental vaccine appeared to combat the most aggressive form of brain cancer - glioblastoma multiforme - allowing patients to live more than 5 years after diagnosis, Maxnews Health reports.

According to Cedars-Sinai, the new immune system-boosting vaccine allowed half of 16 patients treated with it to live much longer than the vast majority of people diagnosed with the cancer.

Seven of the 16 participants still are living, with length of survival ranging from about 61 to 83 months after diagnosis.

Six were "progression free" for more than 5 years, meaning the tumors did not return or require more treatment.

Four remain free of disease with good quality of life.

One patient who remained free of brain cancer for five years died of leukemia.

Experimental vaccine ICT-107 was developed by the biotechnology company ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.