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An innovative lung cancer vaccine, LungVax, is in development and offers hope to those at high risk. Led by researchers at Oxford, UCL, and Francis Crick Institute (FCI), this revolutionary vaccine aims to activate immune systems to target and destroy cancerous cells associated with lung cancer.
LungVax utilizes similar technology as the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in instructing immune system cells to recognize and destroy specific proteins known as neoantigens found in lung cancer cells - acting like "red flags" indicating mutations within their DNA that lead to cancerous development.
Cancer Research UK and CRIS Cancer Foundation have granted the research team funding of up to PS1.7 million so that they can manufacture 3,000 doses of their vaccine, marking a major step in the fight against lung cancer.
Statistics released by Cancer Research UK indicate that approximately 48,500 cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK - with nearly three quarters attributed to smoking. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK lauded LungVax as "an important step forward" in cancer prevention, highlighting its ability to increase survival rates and enhance quality of life among individuals at risk of lung cancer.
Current laboratory trials suggest the vaccine could provoke an immune response and open up additional clinical studies if successful. If successful, its application could be extended to individuals at high risk of lung cancer such as smokers aged 55-74 as well as eligible candidates for targeted lung health screenings in certain regions across the UK.
Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani of UCL and Francis Crick Institute was optimistic about the vaccine's prospects, estimating it could cover approximately 90% of lung cancers. She stressed, however, that smoking cessation remains the best method of decreasing lung cancer risks.
Lola Manterola, President of the CRIS Cancer Foundation, applauded this study as ground-breaking; noting its potential to further cancer research while revolutionizing lung cancer prevention and treatment strategies.