Patients with advanced skin cancer in England are set to be fast-tracked into trials of a new cancer vaccine.
The needle-free injection, which is given for up to two years, works by boosting the immune system’s response and helping it recognise, attack and ‘remember’ cancer cells, to help stop the disease returning.
The NHS has partnered with UK life-sciences company Scancell to widen access for patients at hospitals across the country, with seven sites initially registered and more to follow, and the first patients expected to be referred next month (May).
The trial is the latest part of NHS England’s Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP), a world-first programme to fast-track eligible patients to studies developing vaccines against different cancers at their nearest participating hospital.
The Launch Pad has already begun helping thousands of patients to access trials of a personalised vaccine against bowel cancer, with more than 350 patients fast-tracked for consideration, and has now expanded to include a trial for melanoma.
NHS National Cancer Director Professor Peter Johnson said: “Skin cancer can have a devastating impact and we know that cancer vaccines have the potential to revolutionise cancer care for patients in this country and across the world – and to save more lives.
“It’s incredibly exciting that the NHS is expanding its world-leading programme so more patients with different types of cancer could benefit from the development of new vaccines that could stop their cancer coming back.
“We want to ensure as many eligible NHS patients as possible have access to these vital trials, which is why we are working with a range of industry partners as more studies get up and running to ensure patients are fast-tracked to a vaccine that could transform lives.”
Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK, accounting for around 4 per cent of all new cancer cases – with analysis by Cancer Research UK showing cases had risen by a third between 2009-2019.
Around half of melanoma patients respond to standard care of immunotherapy, but people who don’t respond are at higher risk of their cancer progressing.
The new DNA vaccine, known as iSCIB1+ (Immunobody), is not personalised to a patient’s tumour, but aims to improve the recognition of cancer cells by the immune system to boost response to immunotherapy.
It is being trialled by needle-free injection into the skin (intradermal) or muscle (intramuscular).
The phase II trial, known as SCOPE, is underway and the NHS CVLP – co-ordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit – is aiming to expand the number of patients able to take part and recruit dozens of patients by October.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This kind of innovation is nothing short of life-saving and I want to see more of these world-leading treatments being developed in the UK.
“That’s why through our Plan for Change we’ve taken action to boost our life sciences sector through steps to fast track clinical trials and cut red tape for researchers – so that Britain is the best country in the world for medical research.
“This will accelerate the discovery of transformative treatments and improve services for patients, driving growth across the country while making sure as many people as possible can benefit from cutting-edge treatments.”
The vaccine targets biomarkers specific to melanoma tumours acting as a flag to alert the immune system.
This triggers the activation of T cells, which seek out, attack and destroy the cancer cells, inducing a lasting response by creating an immune ‘memory’ that may prevent the cancer from returning.
To be eligible for the trial, advanced melanoma patients who haven’t yet received treatment will first need a blood test to determine their tissue type.
This test looks at genes that control how the immune system works, which vary from person to person.
The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is a world-leading NHS trial “matchmaking” service to help find new life-saving treatments where thousands of patients can be referred to their nearest participating NHS site, so hospitals across the country will find it easier than ever to take part in transformational research.
Cancer patients can speak to their specialist about trials they might be eligible for.
