Thousands of NHS cancer patients in England will receive personalised vaccines over the next year to help fight their disease in what has been described as a 'landmark' moment for treatment. The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad program, involving 30 hospitals across England, will match patients with clinical trials using mRNA technology to prevent cancer recurrence.
The vaccines work by priming the immune system to recognise and destroy any remaining cancer cells after conventional treatment, reducing the chances of the disease returning. Early results of the vaccine, developed by BioNTech, will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual conference.
First Patient Receives Treatment
Father-of-four and Coventry University lecturer Elliot Pfebve, 55, became the first patient to receive a personalised vaccine against bowel cancer in England. Despite having undergone surgery and chemotherapy, tests showed he still had fragments of cancerous DNA in his bloodstream, putting him at risk of disease recurrence.
"Through the potential of this trial, if it is successful, it may help thousands, if not millions, of people, so they can have hope and may not experience all I have gone through. I hope this will help other people," Mr Pfebve said.
Program Scale and Scope
Dozens of patients have already started receiving the vaccines, with thousands expected to enroll by 2026. Currently, the cancer trials include melanoma, prostate, head and neck cancers, and bowel cancer. Doctors hope to test similar vaccines for breast and lung cancers on UK patients in the future.
NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard described the program as placing the NHS in a "unique position to deliver this kind of world-leading research at size and scale." She added: "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."
How the Vaccines Work
The personalised cancer vaccines are based on mRNA technology, similar to that used in COVID-19 vaccines. Patients who agree to participate have a sample of their cancer tissue and blood test taken. The vaccines are created by analysing a patient's tumour to identify mutations specific to their own cancer, allowing medics to create an individualised treatment.
Unlike conventional vaccines designed to prevent disease, these cancer vaccines are created as treatment after diagnosis. They prime the immune system to look for and potentially destroy any remaining cancer cells specific to each patient's cancer profile.
Clinical Impact and Future Prospects
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at the NHS, explained the rationale: "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."
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is among the participating centres, with Professor Chris Twelves from the trust's Clinical Research Facility describing the advent of such anti-cancer treatments as "a real game-changer." Leeds was chosen for the program partly due to the city's diverse population, ensuring treatments are developed for those who need them most.
People who wish to participate will undergo blood tests and tissue sampling. If eligible, they will be referred to the nearest NHS hospital involved in the scheme. The program represents a significant advancement in personalised cancer treatment, potentially offering new hope for preventing cancer recurrence across multiple cancer types.
