Lung cancer patient first in world to get new vaccine

A woman from Merseyside has become the first patient in the world to receive a new vaccine designed to improve treatment for advanced lung cancer.

Chris Jones, 68, from Hoylake, Wirral, is taking part in a clinical trial at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool. She has advanced non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for more than 80% of all lung cancers.

The vaccine uses cells from her own tumour to create synthetic DNA, known as "doggybone" because of its unusual shape. Doctors hope it will make immunotherapy far more effective for patients whose cancer has become resistant to treatment.

Dr Carles Escriu, Medical Oncology Consultant involved in the trial, explained that about half of patients initially respond to immunotherapy but eventually the cancer becomes resistant. The vaccine aims to boost the immune system to achieve a long-term response.

Researchers say the synthetic DNA is faster and cheaper to produce than normal bacterial DNA, making individually tailored vaccines potentially more achievable for the NHS.

Gilbert