In an ambitious undertaking, researchers are on the verge of developing the first vaccine aimed at preventing lung cancer among people considered to be at higher risk of contracting the disease. This pioneering effort is a collaboration between esteemed institutions including the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute and University College London (UCL). Based on technological principles similar to those used in the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the teams have conceptualized “LungVax.”
This innovative vaccine is designed to prime the immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells, potentially stopping the onset of lung cancer. The project has garnered significant support, receiving up to £1.7 million in funding from notable charities such as Cancer Research UK and the CRIS Cancer Foundation. This financial support is intended to facilitate the production of 3,000 doses of the innovative vaccine, reported daily mail.
LungVax operates by introducing a specific strand of DNA into the immune system, thereby training it to identify and attack distinctive “red flag” proteins, or neoantigens, that manifest on the surface of lung cancer cells. These neoantigens are the result of cancer-inducing mutations in cellular DNA.
Lung cancer remains a common concern, and Cancer research in the UK reporting approximately 48,500 new cases annually in the UK alone, a staggering 72% of which are attributed to smoking. However, the arrival of LungVax is heralded as a significant step forward towards a future where the spectrum of cancer can be more effectively controlled and prevented.
Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer research in the UK, emphasized the profound potential of this scientific effort to reshape the cancer prevention landscape, drawing parallels to the scientific advances that helped the global community overcome the pandemic.
The path to vaccine deployment involves rigorous testing to demonstrate its effectiveness in eliciting an immune response in a laboratory. Success in this phase would pave the way for clinical trials, with the prospect of larger-scale trials for those most at risk if initial results prove promising.
The target demographic for this vaccine primarily includes people aged 55 to 74, both current and former smokers, as well as those eligible for specific lung health assessments in specific regions of the UK.
There is a lot at stake, as highlighted Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani from UCL and the Francis Crick Institute, who will lead clinical trials of LungVax. With fewer than 10% of lung cancer patients surviving more than a decade after diagnosis, the urgency for innovative solutions like LungVax is undeniable.
The vaccine not only complements existing early detection efforts but, according to preliminary projections, has the potential to be effective against approximately 90% of lung cancers. While she stressed that the vaccine is not a substitute for quitting smoking (the most effective measure to reduce the risk of lung cancer), Professor Jamal-Hanjani highlighted its potential to preventively combat the early stages of cancer development. .
Echoing this sentiment, Lola Manterola, president of the CRIS Cancer Foundation, hailed the study as a revolutionary step toward the ultimate goal of cancer prevention, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle against this formidable disease.