New personalised cancer vaccine trials
Thousands of cancer patients in England are set to gain fast-tracked access to trials of personalised cancer vaccines following the launch of a world-leading NHS trial “matchmaking” service to help find new life-saving treatments.
‘Personalised cancer vaccines’ are a type of immunotherapy. A treatment that boosts the body’s own immune system to help it find and destroy cancer. They are created by analysing a tumour and using that information to create a vaccine tailored to that patient. The vaccines aim to create an immune ‘memory’ that can prevent a cancer from returning after surgery or chemotherapy.
Our LGT Research and Development team are pleased to confirm we are one of a number of hospitals now recruiting patients, who meet eligibility requirements, to the trial.
At LGT we have opened the study to our colorectal patients – in time we will open this out more widely to other cancer types.
Those who agree to take part have their cancer DNA studied - having a sample of their cancer tissue taken, which is taken as part of their standard care anyway – this is collated with all accompanying data and the patients are then referred to GSTT for further screening.
Dr Julien de Naurois at our Queen Elizabeth Hospital site is our Principal Investigator at LGT, alongside Co-PIs at University Hospital Lewisham. Doctors will be identifying patients and alongside our research delivery team talking to them about the study and any questions they may have.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer at the NHS said: “We know that even after a successful operation, cancers can sometimes return because a few cancer cells are left in the body, but using a vaccine to target those remaining cells may be a way to stop this happening. Access to clinical trials could provide another option for patients and their families, and I’m delighted that through our national launch pad we will be widening the opportunities to be part of these trials for many more people, with thousands of patients expected to be recruited in the next year.”
The first NHS patient in England has been treated with a personalised vaccine against their bowel cancer, in a clinical trial part of NHS England’s new Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad. In a national first, father-of-four Elliot Phebve received the developmental jab at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, one of several sites taking part in the colorectal cancer vaccine trial sponsored by BioNTech SE.
Higher-education lecturer Elliot, 55, had no cancer symptoms and was diagnosed through a routine health check with his GP. Following blood tests, he was immediately invited to Manor Hospital in Walsall and triaged to a hospital ward to receive blood transfusions. A CT scan and a colonoscopy confirmed he had colon cancer and Eliott had surgery to remove the tumour and 30 cm of his large intestine. He was then referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for initial rounds of chemotherapy and to take part in a clinical trial.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “Seeing Elliot receive his first treatment as part of the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is a landmark moment for patients and the health service as we seek to develop better and more effective ways to stop this disease. Thanks to advances in care and treatment, cancer survival is at an all-time high in this country, but these vaccine trials could one day offer us a way of vaccinating people against their own cancer to help save more lives.
“The NHS is in a unique position to deliver this kind of world-leading research at size and scale, and as more of these trials get up and running at hospitals across the country, our national match-making service will ensure as many eligible patients as possible get the opportunity to access them.”
If you’d like more information you can contact our Research and Development team colleagues: LH.RD@NHS.NET. You can also find out more about thier work.