SKIN cancer patients are set to get a potentially life-saving vaccine, as part of the expansion of a “ground-breaking”; NHS trial.
The needle-free injection boosts the immune system, helping the body recognise, attack and ‘remember’ cells – to help stop the disease from returning.
It will be given to those patients diagnosed with advanced – the deadliest form of the , which causes 2,340 deaths each year in the UK – from next month.
It comes a week after the announced plans for a new health data research service, to accelerate development of therapies and medicines.
Granddad-of-four, Paul Thomas, from Hampshire, is among the first patients to take part in the SCOPE trial.
Diagnosed with advanced melanoma in 2017, the 63-year-old’s cancer kept returning, despite treatment.
Since joining the trial last year, the window cleaner’s tumours have significantly shrunk.
“I feel so lucky to be put on the trial,”; he said. “Every time I go for a scan they [tumours] seem to be shrinking, which is really exciting.
“I'm really hoping for total eradication of my cancer, as opposed to being put in remission and I’m feeling optimistic.”;
are an example of personalised medicineto treatment that tailors therapies to patients’ genetic makeup.
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.”
The Government’s Plan for Change to cut red tape will put the UK at the forefront of medical research, the PM said.
“It 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,”; he added.
Meanwhile, Professor Peter Johnson, national cancer director said these new vaccines have the potential to “revolutionise cancer care for patients – and save 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,”; he said.
The vaccine iSCIB1+, developed by Oxford-based Scancell, is the latest to be trialled under – 10,000 patients in England are set to get their very own disease-busting jab by 2030.
The Launch Pad has already seen more than 350 patients fast-tracked onto trials for a
Melanoma skin cancer can be deadly and it’s sadly on the rise in the UK.
Susanna DanielsCEO of Melanoma Focus
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer, diagnosed around 17,500 times a year, and , according to Cancer Research UK.
While standard immunotherapy treatment works for around half of melanoma patients, those who don’t respond face a higher risk of their disease spreading.
Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said: “As someone who has overcome skin cancer, I know that every advancement in treatment brings hope to patients and their families.”
The new DNA vaccine targets specific biomarkers that are specific to melanoma tumours, that act as a red flag to alert the immune system.
This triggers the activation of T cells in the blood, which seek out, attack and destroy the cancer cells.
It creates a lasting response, an immune ‘memory’ that helps prevent the cancer returning.
To be eligible, advanced melanoma patients who have yet to receive treatment, will first need to have a blood test to determine their tissue type.
Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, said: “Melanoma skin cancer can be deadly and it’s sadly on the rise in the UK.
“We’re delighted to see progress in innovative treatments.
“The use of vaccines to treat melanoma is an exciting development and we will be encouraging eligible patients to take part.”;
