Chulalongkorn University reveals the progress “Personalized Cancer Vaccine” after testing in volunteers, found an increase in immunity few side effects It is used for treatment, not prevention. Preparing for clinical research in 2023
On February 10, 2022, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wirot Sriulapong, Head of the Center of Excellence for Comprehensive Cancer Medicine Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society said in a press release. “Individual Cancer Vaccine Advances Innovation of Hope of Thai Society” that at present, there are 3 main approaches to cancer drug treatment:
1.chemotherapy It is a treatment that is not expensive. Moderately effective and may have many side effects 2.targeted drug It is a drug that is specific to cancer mutations. Specific efficacy in cases where the mutation is matched to the drug. The side effects were usually mild compared to chemotherapy and 3.immunotherapy Currently, there are both antibody drug treatments. and using cell therapy Both of these approaches are generally approved for treatment. good performance not specific to cancer type and most of the side effects are few But there can be minor side effects that can sometimes be severe.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wirot said that in research and development of cancer treatment with immunotherapy The focus is on developing therapies in 3 approaches: cancer cell therapy (CAR T-cells and NK cells), personalized cancer vaccine (therapeutic cancer neoantigen vaccine) and anti-cancer antibody drugs. (antitumor drug, immune checkpoint inhibitor)
These three immunotherapy methods have different strengths. and can be used to treat together And can be used in conjunction with other cancer treatment methods to increase the efficiency of treatment. Preliminary in an individualized cancer vaccine research study in kidney cancer. and melanoma or melanoma skin cancer
Dr. Trairak Pisitkul, Head of Center of Excellence for Systems Biology Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University discusses the treatment with a specific cancer vaccine that The research team has developed a personalized cancer vaccine since 2017, and has been available to volunteers in Phase I clinical trials since Jan. 2021, the first clinical trial in Thailand. and in Southeast Asia
The production of this personalized vaccine Information on the mutations detected in that patient must be used. to induce a specific immune response against cancer mutations This is because each patient’s cancer has most of the mutations that are different. The production of vaccines must be done one person at a time in order to create a specific and effective immune booster against cancer.
Provide personalized cancer vaccines
Dr. Trairak said that the vaccination for cancer treatment is specific to the individual. To begin with, taking a biopsy from a patient for genetic decoding takes about two months to detect mutations found only in the cancer biopsy. which are not found in normal cells of the body and used the mutation data to produce small fragments of mutant cancer proteins. that has only mutation data but cannot cause disease without injecting cancer cells into the body in any way
The patient does not need to be hospitalized. However, 7 doses of vaccination must be given, with the first 5 doses within 1 month, and spaced at two additional doses for boosting 1-2 months. produced and stimulate T-cell lymphocytes to recognize cancer mutations more specifically
cancer test results found few side effects
Dr. Trairak said that preliminary in one year, a personalized cancer vaccine test was conducted with 4 cancer patients who had stage 4 (invasive stage) cancer, divided into 3 patients with melanoma and kidney cancer. 1 person found vaccination safe Found few side effects, such as pain at the injection site. No serious side effects were found.
And after 3 weeks of vaccination, it was found that after 3 weeks of vaccination, the immunity in all 4 patients was clearly improved. and is an immune response that is specific to the mutant fragments of that cancer patient.
Dr Trairak emphasized that the vaccine’s work So this vaccine is a cancer vaccine. by using data from cancer biopsies to produce vaccines not a cancer vaccine and abroad, such as at Harvard University There are studies as well. It was found that the combination of personalized cancer vaccines with antibody drugs that enhance immune function can increase the effectiveness of treatment. It is considered that Thai medicine has kept pace with foreign countries.
The research team monitored the pathological response in one patient, Dr. Trairak said. When assessing the distribution of T-cell tumor infiltration in cancer biopsies (T-cell tumor infiltration), they found changes. clear which before vaccination white blood cells detected It is mainly located around the periphery of the tumor. and after vaccination It was found that the white blood cells were changed. respond positively has spread into more cancerous biopsies Currently, this patient is stable after receiving cancer vaccine treatment. and monitored for 9 months
Preparing for Clinical Research Year 66
Dr Trairak said about the goal that If the efficacy of the vaccine is proven This could be as soon as or within the next four years. The research team will move into the next phase of clinical testing. It started to open at Chulalongkorn Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, when research can prove its efficacy and safety. will proceed with the registration
meanwhile Center of Excellence in Cancer Immunotherapy It will research and develop antibody drugs to treat cancer. or anticancer drugs in parallel Which is currently in the production process in the factory and will begin testing on animal testing within this year. Including the start of clinical testing in cancer patients in 2023, if the development of a personalized cancer vaccine and antibody drugs were successful. Will be able to use both treatment methods concurrently. to improve the efficiency of cancer treatment and prices that will help patients access treatment