Pluripotent cells share antigens with cancer cells, suggesting that they could be used to prime the immune system to target cancer. Here, Kooreman and colleagues report the development of a vaccine based on irradiated mouse induced pluripotent stem cells. Prophylactically, the vaccine inhibited tumour growth in mouse models of breast cancer, melanoma and mesothelioma. Used as an adjuvant therapy after tumour resection, the vaccine prevented tumour recurrence and reduced tumour load in draining lymph nodes in mice. Adoptive transfer models showed that the vaccine promoted an antigen-specific antitumour T cell response.