15 NHS Hospitals to Launch Groundbreaking Cancer Vaccines First

A New Hope for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Patients in England with advanced head and neck cancers are now participating in a groundbreaking trial of a new vaccine that could potentially change the landscape of cancer treatment. This initiative is part of the NHS’s broader effort to move towards more personalized and effective therapies.

The vaccine, which uses mRNA technology, is designed to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancerous cells. The first patients have already received the jab, and approximately 100 more individuals will be enrolled over the next 12 months across 15 hospitals. The NHS has ambitious plans to expand this trial to thousands of patients across the country for various types of cancer in the coming years.

Who Is Eligible for the Vaccine?

Head and neck cancer refers to a group of cancers that affect areas such as the mouth, throat, and voice box. In England, around 11,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Despite medical advancements, treating advanced forms of this cancer remains challenging, with high recurrence rates and two-year survival rates below 50%.

This trial is being conducted through the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit. This unit has previously helped refer about 550 patients to trials for vaccines targeting bowel and skin cancers.

The Hospitals Involved

The trial involves 15 hospitals across England, including:

• Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool
• The Royal Marsden – Sutton
• The Royal Marsden – London
• Oxford Cancer Centre – Oxford
• Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Leeds
• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust – Southampton
• Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Preston
• Mount Vernon Cancer Centre – Hertfordshire
• Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – London
• UCLH – London
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital – Birmingham
• Addenbrooke’s Hospital – Cambridge
• Torbay Hospital – South Devon
• The Christie – Manchester

How the Vaccines Work

The vaccines use mRNA technology, which was initially developed for creating Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic. Traditional vaccines typically use an inactivated virus to trigger an immune response. In contrast, mRNA vaccines contain synthetic genetic sequences that instruct cells to produce proteins that activate the immune system.

The specific vaccine used in this trial, known as AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113-01), is designed to help the immune system identify and destroy cancer cells containing human papillomavirus (HPV) proteins. These jabs are encoded with two proteins commonly found in head and neck cancers linked to high-risk HPV types.

Why Are They Called Vaccines?

These vaccines are referred to as "vaccines" because they educate the immune system to fight cancer, similar to how traditional vaccines teach the body to defend against viruses and bacteria. However, unlike conventional vaccines, these do not aim to prevent cancer from occurring in the first place. Instead, the goal is to reduce the likelihood of cancer returning in the future.

Could These Vaccines Reduce Cancer Rates?

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, described the vaccines as “potentially transformative” and expressed hope that they could offer renewed hope for keeping the disease at bay. The jab is considered “personalized” because it is tailored to target the specific type of cancer and tumor in each patient.

To create the vaccine, a sample of the patient’s tumor is taken during surgery, followed by DNA sequencing and the use of artificial intelligence. Early results from this trial, including those for skin cancer, have shown promising outcomes for mRNA vaccines.

This innovative approach marks a significant step forward in the fight against cancer, offering hope for improved treatment options and better patient outcomes.