Published on 4 April 2023
A new cancer ‘vaccine’ study is being launched in Liverpool which will use genetic code to tailor treatments to tackle tumours.
It is being led by Mr Robert Jones, Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgeon at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been appointed UK Chief Investigator for the trial exploring personalised tumour vaccines.
Liverpool will be the central hub for the study, which is in partnership with German pharmaceutical company, BioNTech.
Working alongside The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Liverpool, the trial hopes to recruit the first local patients this month – with 350 UK patients recruited by October.
Mr Jones is the Bowel Cancer UK and Royal College of Surgeons UK Lead for research into advanced bowel cancer (also known as colorectal), and holds a National Institute for Healthcare Research (NIHR) Fellowship for clinical research and trials in metastatic colorectal cancer (when cancer spreads), and liver and gallbladder disease.
He said: “This is an incredible opportunity to change the face of cancer treatment. I’m delighted to help run this trial which we hope will mean more people are cured of colorectal cancer after surgery.
“Making vaccines for cancer has always been very difficult, because unlike other diseases, cancer has a unique appearance to the patient’s own immune system. Using new technology, we are now able to quickly and efficiently develop a vaccine that is specific to each individual’s cancer. The early results have been really encouraging, and we know these vaccines are very well tolerated with far less toxicity than chemotherapy.
“This study builds on work that Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has delivered over the last couple of years in collaboration with BioNTech and the University of Liverpool, and recognises the Trust as an organisation that places research at the front and centre of routine clinical care.”
Mr Jones explains more about the trial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8PGH7K3iW4