In a monumental leap for cancer treatment, doctors have initiated trials for the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine, sparking hope for thousands of patients worldwide. Experts are calling this development “groundbreaking,” with the potential to revolutionize how we fight lung cancer, which claims about 1.8 million lives each year, making it the deadliest cancer globally.
This new vaccine, called BNT116 and developed by BioNTech, is tailored specifically to combat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most prevalent form of the disease. Unlike traditional cancer treatments, which often harm healthy cells, this innovative vaccine instructs the body to target and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unscathed. Even more impressively, it is designed to prevent cancer from returning, potentially offering a long-term solution for patients.
The phase 1 clinical trial marks the first time BNT116 has been tested in humans, with trials being conducted across 34 research sites in seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. In the UK alone, six sites in England and Wales are involved, and the first patient received the vaccine dose just this past Tuesday.
Approximately 130 patients are expected to participate in this initial trial phase, with about 20 from the UK. The participants range from those in early stages of cancer, pre-surgery, or radiotherapy, to those with advanced or recurrent cancer. These patients will receive the mRNA vaccine in conjunction with immunotherapy, enhancing their immune response to target cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.
How the Vaccine Works
Much like the mRNA vaccines used to combat COVID-19, the BNT116 vaccine works by presenting the immune system with specific markers found on NSCLC cancer cells. This primes the immune system to recognize and attack any cells that display these markers. This method strengthens the body’s natural defense against cancer, aiming to improve survival rates and prevent relapse.
“This is the start of an exciting new era for mRNA-based immunotherapy trials,” said Professor Siow Ming Lee, a consultant medical oncologist at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust, leading the UK trials. “It’s straightforward to administer, allowing us to target specific antigens in cancer cells. This technology represents the next big step in cancer treatment.”
A Personal Mission
One of the first recipients of the vaccine in the UK, 67-year-old Janusz Racz from London, is not just a patient but also a scientist specializing in artificial intelligence. Diagnosed with lung cancer in May, Racz was motivated by his scientific background to participate in the trial. “As a scientist, I understand that progress in medicine relies on people participating in such investigations,” he said. “This new methodology could not only help me but also provide proof of concept, potentially saving countless lives worldwide.”
Racz received six consecutive injections over a 30-minute session, each containing different RNA strands. He will continue with weekly vaccinations for six weeks, followed by bi-weekly doses for just over a year.
A Promising Future
Professor Lee and his team are hopeful that adding this mRNA vaccine to standard treatments will prevent cancer recurrence. “We know that immunotherapy has increased survival rates, and now we aim to improve these outcomes even further,” said Lee. “Our ultimate goal is to move through the trial phases swiftly so this vaccine can become a standard treatment worldwide, saving countless lung cancer patients.”
