The vaccine developed by BioNTech, called BNT116, uses the same mRNA technology as the successful vaccine for COVID-19. Doctors believe it will target cancer cells more accurately than chemotherapy, reducing collateral damage to healthy cells and minimizing side effects.
“It’s painless,” commented Janusz Racz after his first injection. “It’s much better than chemotherapy, which was tough for me.” The 67-year-old is a former climber and marathon runner who has also participated in the Athens Marathon, stating he aims to run the London Marathon within three years.
credit: Aaron Chown / PA
University College London Hospital (UCLH) has launched the British phase of a global trial, with approximately 130 patients with non-small cell lung cancer participating in six hospitals across the UK. Mr. Racz expressed hope that the vaccine would not only help him but also accelerate its production for wider use. “The COVID vaccines helped millions of people. This will also help millions of people,” he stated.
The Disease
Cancer often evades the immune system, but this vaccine marks cancer cells as a threat, prompting the body to destroy them. Early trials with similar vaccines have shown that they promise a reduction in tumor size and risk of recurrence. This is the first trial of the BioNTech vaccine in humans, aiming to identify any significant side effects before larger studies confirm its clinical efficacy. Over 12 months, volunteers will receive multiple doses to continuously boost their immune response.
Dr. Sarah Benafif, head of the clinical trial at UCLH, has high hopes for the vaccine. “We already have some data that suggests this is a relatively well-tolerated type of vaccine,” she said. “We hope that over time we can show that the treatment is effective against lung cancer while leaving other tissues untouched.
Non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of lung cancer, is often associated with smoking. Many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, making treatment less effective, with around one-quarter surviving five years. This trial uniquely includes patients with early-stage disease who have not yet undergone surgery or radiotherapy, as well as patients with advanced or recurrent cancer.
Lung Cancer a Global Plague
Professor Siow Ming Lee, an oncologist at UCLH and clinical lead for the British arm of the study, emphasized the urgent need for new treatments. “We have 1.8 million lung cancer deaths worldwide, many in developing countries,” he said. “Let’s hope we can start with the first generation of mRNA vaccine and then expand it to the rest of the world.”
The NHS has begun screening elderly smokers for lung cancer to catch cases early. Symptoms such as persistent cough, chest pain, and fatigue should prompt a visit to the doctor.
The national cancer director of NHS England, Dame Cally Palmer, stressed the potential implications: “If we succeed, it could be revolutionary for vaccinating people against their own cancer, to prevent its recurrence after their initial treatment.”
Hospitals across the country, in partnership with universities and partners, are exploring ways to harness the immune system to treat various forms of cancer. Access to groundbreaking trials and other innovations offers hope to cancer patients, while thousands more are expected to participate in trials in the coming years.
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