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A scientist has proposed that a new cancer vaccine using mRNA, currently undergoing trials in the UK, could potentially usher in a new era of treatments for the illness.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid advancement in vaccine technology. As part of a global effort, British patients are participating in trials to test the safety and effectiveness of a potential vaccine that could potentially revolutionize cancer treatment by being readily available.
The vaccine – named mRNA-4359 and produced by Moderna – is aimed at people with advanced melanoma, lung cancer and other solid tumour cancers.
In certain situations, vaccines are custom-made for each patient by utilizing their genetic data in laboratory settings. However, the vaccine being tested on British patients is aimed at particular types of cancer and can be produced more efficiently and rapidly.
A male resident of Surrey who has malignant melanoma skin cancer and is unresponsive to current treatment was the initial recipient of the vaccine at Hammersmith Hospital in late October. This was a part of the trial conducted by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
The 81-year-old individual, who prefers to remain anonymous, stated that they underwent immunotherapy and radiotherapy, but did not receive chemotherapy. Their choices were to either wait and take no action, or actively participate in treatment.
I am incredibly thankful for the hospitals and people conducting these trials. We must find a way to alter the statistic that one out of every two people will develop cancer at some point in their lives and improve the chances.
Throughout the experiment, the vaccine will be examined independently and in conjunction with the established medication pembrolizumab, which is a sanctioned form of immunotherapy commonly referred to as Keytruda.
After two decades of study, researchers believe that the field of cancer vaccines is beginning to see promising results.
Approximately 40 to 50 individuals worldwide are being enrolled in a study called Mobilize, which includes participants from London, Spain, the US, and Australia. There is potential for this number to increase. The mRNA, a type of genetic material, works to inform the immune system about the distinctions between cancerous and healthy cells and prompts it to eliminate the former once inside the body.
According to Dr. Kyle Holen, who leads the development of therapeutics and oncology at Moderna, there is hope that the vaccine could potentially treat a variety of cancers beyond those being tested in the current trial.
The speaker stated that they think the treatment may work for head-neck, bladder, and kidney cancer. However, they are initially focusing on melanoma and lung cancer as they believe these have the greatest chance of success.
Dr. Holen proposed that after 20 years of research, cancer vaccines are now showing promising results and providing tangible benefits to patients.
“We observed a significant decrease in recurrence risk for patients with high-risk melanoma after receiving our first vaccine,” he stated. “We are extremely optimistic about the initial findings and believe this could mark the beginning of a new era in cancer treatment.”
According to Dr David Pinato from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, immunotherapies eliminate the ability for cancer to hide in the body. However, cancer vaccines offer the advantage of being more targeted by providing the immune system with specific instructions, like an identikit of the tumor cells.
A recent study has indicated that the rate of improvement in cancer survival in the UK has decreased in comparison to the past 50 years.
According to Dr Pinato, a benefit of mRNA technology is that it prompts the body to produce its own instructions and activate the immune system.
Although personalized vaccines have the potential to be highly successful, their production can be time-consuming, often requiring weeks to create and depending on a substantial amount of tumor tissue. Additionally, there is currently insufficient evidence to determine if personalized vaccines are superior to more general cancer vaccines like Moderna’s, according to the expert.
The Moderna vaccine focuses on particular characteristics found in multiple tumors. According to Dr. Pinato, it targets the most common cause of cancer. This approach has significant benefits in terms of speed and the ability to prepare doses in advance without having to meet with the patient first.
The Mobilize study is currently enrolling participants, and Moderna anticipates sharing findings sometime in the next year.
Dr. Holen stated that the use of mRNA technology in Covid-19 vaccines has provided motivation to accelerate the development of cancer vaccinations utilizing mRNA.
The speaker mentioned that they began developing a cancer vaccine before the Covid outbreak and incorporated some of that technology into the Covid vaccine.
“An impressive feat is that our Covid vaccine has been administered to more than one billion patients, and this same technology is now being researched for use in cancer patients. Having treated such a large number of patients, we have gained valuable insights into the safety and effectiveness of the treatment globally.”
The health secretary stated that new vaccines have the potential to significantly transform the way cancer is treated in Britain.
“We anticipate having a wealth of safety data for our cancer vaccine, surpassing that of any other cancer vaccine developed. This gives us reassurance that we are headed in the right direction.”
According to him, the adverse reactions caused by Moderna’s cancer vaccines seem to be lower than those typically seen with other forms of immunotherapy.
Dr. Holen stated that the side effects experienced from receiving a Covid or flu shot are similar and relatively minor. These may include arm pain, fatigue, and low-grade fevers that typically only last a few days. In comparison to other treatments for boosting the immune system, these side effects are considered to be mild.
Victoria Atkins, the health secretary of the UK, stated that this vaccine has the ability to not only save more lives, but also transform the way we approach treating this dreadful disease. The therapies associated with this vaccine are also more efficient and have less harmful effects on the body.
Nevertheless, there is uncertainty among experts regarding the reason for varying levels of effectiveness in vaccine response among patients.
Source: independent.co.uk
