A clinical trial focused on the effectiveness of the first vaccine for lung cancer has been launched in Poland, oncologist Professor Dariusz M. Kowalski from the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw confirms. This is a promising method, and patients can still apply for the clinical trial, he adds.
'Patients after radical surgery (those who have a chance of being completely cured of the cancer - PAP) are qualified for the clinical study of the mRNA vaccine for non-small-cell lung cancer', says the head of the Conservative Department of the Lung and Chest Cancer Clinic of the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, Secretary General of the Polish Lung Cancer Group, Professor Dariusz M. Kowalski.
Then, if the examination of the tumour sample confirms a specific clinical stage of the disease, the patient receives adjuvant chemotherapy, as before. 'During this time, the tumour tissue is sent to the USA, where several dozen genes responsible for the development of lung cancer in a given patient are identified in the laboratory', Professor Kowalski says.
On this basis, an mRNA vaccine is developed - individually for each patient - designed to train the patient's immune system to identify lung cancer cells and destroy them. The idea is to prevent recurrence of cancer in the future.
'The patient receives the vaccine as part of adjuvant therapy, and additionally an immunocompetent drug (i.e. immunotherapy). This is truly a +tailored+, personalised treatment', Professor Kowalski adds. In the case of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, the preparations taking into account a specific variant of the coronavirus were the same for everyone, he says.
The same study for melanoma patients is being conducted by the Institute of Oncology's Soft Tissue, Bone and Melanoma Cancer Clinic.
'We are still recruiting patients with lung cancer who can undergo surgical treatment and meet the qualification criteria for the study. This is a very promising method and although it is too early to provide specifics, the preliminary results are very encouraging', Kowalski continues
He adds that a clinical trial is also planned for patients with metastatic cancer.
Poland is one of seven countries (that include the UK, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Turkey and the USA) where studies of the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccine in patients with lung cancer are being conducted.
As reported by The Guardian newspaper, the first patient in the UK has already received the vaccine. He is a 67-year-old Pole, Janusz Racz. (PAP)
Joanna Morga
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