In an ambitious venture, researchers are on the brink of developing the first-ever vaccine aimed at preventing lung cancer among individuals deemed to be at heightened 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). Drawing on technological principles akin to those employed 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 cancerous cells, potentially halting 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 backing is set to facilitate the production of 3,000 doses of the groundbreaking vaccine, reported Daily Mail.
LungVax operates by introducing a specific strand of DNA to the immune system, thereby training it to identify and target distinctive “red flag” proteins, or neoantigens, that manifest on the surface of lung cancer cells. These neoantigens are the result of cancer-inducing mutations within the cellular DNA.
Lung cancer remains a prevalent concern, with Cancer Research UK reporting approximately 48,500 new cases annually within the UK alone, a staggering 72% of which are attributed to smoking. However, the advent of LungVax is heralded as a significant advancement toward a future where the specter of cancer can be more effectively managed and prevented.
Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, emphasized the profound potential of this scientific endeavor to reshape the landscape of cancer prevention, drawing parallels to the scientific breakthroughs that helped navigate the global community through the pandemic.
The pathway to the vaccine’s deployment involves rigorous testing to demonstrate its efficacy in eliciting an immune response within a laboratory setting. Success in this phase would pave the way for clinical trials, with the prospect of larger-scale trials for those most at risk should initial results prove promising.
The target demographic for this vaccine primarily includes individuals aged between 55 and 74, encompassing both current and former smokers, as well as those eligible for targeted lung health assessments in specific regions of the UK.
The stakes are high, as underscored by Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani of UCL and the Francis Crick Institute, who will spearhead the LungVax clinical trials. With less than 10% of lung cancer patients surviving beyond a decade post-diagnosis, the urgency for innovative solutions like LungVax is undeniable.
The vaccine not only complements existing early detection efforts but, based on preliminary projections, has the potential to be effective against approximately 90% of lung cancer types. While emphasizing that the vaccine is not a substitute for quitting smoking—the most effective measure to reduce lung cancer risk—Professor Jamal-Hanjani highlighted its potential to preemptively combat the earliest stages of cancer development.
Echoing this sentiment, Lola Manterola, president of the CRIS Cancer Foundation, lauded the study as a revolutionary stride toward the ultimate goal of cancer prevention, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle against this formidable disease.
