New cancer vaccine for pancreatic cancer

Posted 7th February 2014

Oncologists in the region test a brand new treatment method for fifth biggest cause of cancer related deaths in the UK

Experts at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre have been working with researchers across the UK to create an innovative cancer vaccine which can be used in conjunction with traditional treatments to help combat pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is responsible for over 9,000 deaths in the UK every year, with less than four per cent of patients surviving five years or more after diagnosis. The inability to recognise symptoms and the unique formation of the cancer tumour make it difficult to provide patients with the life-saving treatment they need.

Professor Daniel Palmer, chair of medical oncology and one of the trial leads for the pancreatic cancer vaccine, commented; “The new cancer vaccine is a form of immunotherapy which will be used after initial surgery to remove the tumour in the pancreas. It will work to manipulate the body’s immune system to recognise microscopic cancer cells, meaning a patient is able to fight any remaining cells before the cancer forms again in any other parts of the body.”

Merseyside and Cheshire patients became the first to access the vaccine this month, as The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital began recruiting patients to the trial. The aim is to prove that a combined treatment method adding the vaccine to standard chemotherapy should become a standard of care for those patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer and at risk of subsequent relapse.

Prof Palmer, added; “Currently, patients with pancreatic cancer who are well enough to undergo surgery would typically follow the operation with a course of chemotherapy. However, due to the aggressive nature of this type of cancer, traces of the disease may still remain which form secondary tumours later down the line, an issue researchers are hoping the vaccine will combat.”

Immunotherapy is becoming increasingly popular for cancer treatment and aims to train the immune system to specifically attack cancer cells and strengthen the immune system's response to the disease. It can be administered in three forms, with a simple vaccine being the most common as it means the body can spark an instant immune response to certain cancers.

Prof Palmer, continued; “It’s always an exciting time when a drug comes to the clinical trial stage as it means we could be one step closer to combatting certain types of cancer.

“Pancreatic cancer is particularly aggressive so to be able to make headway in this area is fantastic and I’m looking forward to seeing the results for the new combined method of treatment. Immunotherapy is a relatively new area within cancer treatment and so far, in some settings, it has proved extremely successful.

“Any patients who feel they may be suitable to take part in the trial can chat to their consultant for further advice.”

In 2013, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre also celebrated ten years as the host of the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Research Network, which has helped increase the number of local people being recruited to take part in international cancer research from four to 23 per cent since 2002.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is working collaboratively with other research partners from across the region on over 120 clinical trials to help develop new and innovative ways to treat various types of cancer.