Cancer vaccine: Man receives first dose in England

LONDON.- A man with bowel cancer is the first patient in England to be treated with a personalised vaccine against the disease within the public health service (NHS), the health system of United Kingdom.

Health officials said thousands more people are expected to be recruited to take part in vaccine trials for various forms of cancer in the coming years.

The treatment was hailed by authorities as a “landmark moment” for patients and the NHS.

According to information released yesterday, the person who received the personalized vaccine against colon cancer is Elliot Pfebve, a 55-year-old teacher, who was diagnosed with the disease after a routine medical check-up.

After having a 30-centimeter tumor removed from his large intestine, he was referred to the Hospital Queen Elizabeth de Birmingham to receive chemotherapy and participate in the clinical trial.

“Taking part in this trial is in line with my profession as a teacher and as a community-focused person. I want to have a positive impact on other people’s lives and help them develop their potential,” he added in statements released by the health authority.

“This trial, if successful, has the potential to help thousands, if not millions, of people, so they can have hope and not experience everything I’ve been through,” she said.

The vaccine was created using technology from mRNA (messenger RNA) and is jointly developed by biopharmaceutical companies BioNTech y Genentech.

According to experts, the vaccine works by looking for specific mutations in the patient’s tumor and doctors use the information to create personalized treatment.

The injection is designed to stimulate the immune system after tumor removal surgery, so that it can recognize and attack any remaining cancer cells.

Analysis

Victoria Kuneneconsultant clinical oncologist at the Hospital Queen Elizabeth de Birmingham and principal investigator of the trial, said that “the cancer vaccines under investigation They are based on mRNA and are created by analyzing the tumor to identify mutations specific to its own cancer.”

“Using this information we can create an individualised cancer vaccine, but it is still too early to say whether it will be successful, although we are very hopeful,” he said.

“Based on the limited data we currently have on the body’s response to the vaccine, this could prove to be a significant and positive development for patients, but more data are still needed and we are continuing to recruit suitable patients for the trial,” he added.