When the COVID-19 virus outbreak broke out, the world learned more about the mRNA vaccine. As a hope to prevent diseases It is also destined to represent the future of protecting people from the deadliest disease, cancer.
Recently, the United Kingdom began Phase 3 clinical trials of the world’s first “personalized mRNA vaccine” against the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma.
Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage. He was one of the first patients to volunteer to test the new vaccine. He had skin cancer, melanoma. and he just had a tumor removed from his scalp last August.
Vaccine mRNA-4157 (V940) It is designed to help the vaccine recipient’s immune system recognize and eliminate any remaining cancer cells. This means in theory, his cancer would not return.
Doctors at University College London Hospital (UCLH) are administering the vaccine alongside another medicine, pembrolizumab. (Pembrolizumab), which helps the immune system kill cancer cells
The combined treatment trial is being conducted by Moderna, the company that developed the mRNA technology, and Merck Sharp & Dohme, a major drug developer.
Experts in other countries, including Australia The same formula is also being tested on cancer patients. to gather further evidence and whether this treatment should be made more widely available.
Patients will receive 1 mg of mRNA vaccine every 3 weeks for up to 9 doses and will receive 200 mg of pembrolizumab every 3 weeks (up to 18 doses) for approximately 1 year.
Vaccines are individualized. This means that the composition of the vaccine will change to suit each patient. Not the same at all
It was created to match the unique genetic signature of the patient’s tumor. And it works by instructing the body to produce proteins or antibodies that attack only the targets or antigens present in those cancer cells.
UCLH researcher Dr Heather Shaw said the study had potential as a treatment for melanoma patients. and is being tested on other cancers, such as lung cancers. Bladder and kidneys
“This is one of the most exciting things we’ve seen in recent years. It is created specifically for each patient. It is not possible to administer the same vaccine to the next patient in line. I don’t think it’s going to work,” Shaw said.
He added: “These are very technical and made with care for the patient.”
The British study aims to recruit at least 60-70 patients at eight testing centers across the country. Patients participating in the study must have undergone removal of high-risk skin cancer at least 12 weeks before vaccination. For best results
Steve Young said: “This study gives me the chance to feel that I am actually taking action against this invisible enemy… The scans show that I still have a chance that the cancer cells will not be detected, so instead of waiting and hoping they don’t comes back, I actually have the opportunity to get involved by putting on boxing gloves and fighting it.
Phase 2 trial data published in December 2023 found that people with high-risk severe cancers who received the vaccine alongside pembrolizumab therapy were almost half (49%) more likely to die or have their disease relapse. cancer within 3 years compared to those treated with pembrolizumab alone.
Dr Shaw said there was real hope that this treatment was possible. It is a “game changer”, especially because the treatment appears to have relatively tolerable side effects, such as fatigue, sore arms and other similar symptoms. of a flu or COVID-19 vaccine.
Compiled by the BBC
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