Ankara
Doctors have begun clinical trials of the world's first mRNA lung cancer vaccine in seven countries, including Turkey, in a groundbreaking effort that could revolutionize cancer treatment, according to reports on Friday.
The vaccine, developed by BioNTech and called BNT116, is designed to target the most common type of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), by training the immune system to recognize and attack tumor markers specific to NSCLC, thereby eliminating cancer cells and preventing recurrence.
The trial, which is being conducted in countries including the UK, US, Germany, Spain and Turkey, is seen as a significant step forward in treating lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, killing around 1.8 million people each year, with survival rates particularly poor in advanced cases.
The Phase 1 clinical trial is being conducted at 34 research sites, including six in the UK. The first patient in the UK was vaccinated on Tuesday, marking a key milestone in the study, according to The Guardian.
Approximately 130 lung cancer patients with various stages of cancer, from early to advanced to recurrent, will participate in the trial and receive the vaccine in parallel with immunotherapy. The mRNA technology used in BNT116 is similar to that used in COVID-19 vaccines and, unlike traditional chemotherapy, directs the immune system to attack cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.
Experts, including Siu Ming Lee from University College London Hospital, see the trial as the start of a “highly exciting new era” in cancer research, The Guardian reported.
One of the first participants, Janusz Lacz, a 67-year-old scientist from London, joined the trial because of his belief in scientific progress. Lacz, who was diagnosed in May, hopes that the new treatment will eradicate his cancer and contribute to the global effort to develop effective cancer treatments. He will undergo a rigorous treatment regimen that includes multiple weekly injections, followed by regular dosing over the course of a year.
As trials progress, researchers hope to demonstrate the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing lung cancer recurrence, potentially making it the standard of care worldwide.
The initiative is part of wider NHS plans to fast-track patients into clinical trials of innovative cancer treatments and has been hailed as a potentially game-changing step in the fight against lung cancer.
According to The Guardian, UK Science Minister Lord Vallance expressed optimism about the trials, highlighting the vaccine's potential to save thousands of lives.
Meanwhile, Latz is hopeful that once he completes his treatment he will be able to start running again and achieve his goal of completing the London Marathon.
This trial marks an important milestone in lung cancer research, with the potential to transform treatment outcomes and offer new hope to patients around the world.
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