Janusz Racz is the first in the UK to receive a new experimental vaccine to treat lung cancer
A lung cancer patient in the UK has become the first to receive a new experimental vaccine that may help his body fight off the potentially deadly disease. Janusz Racz, 67, was reportedly given at least six syringes of the vaccine, each containing genetic material for a different part of the tumour to train five billion cells in his immune system to kick into gear.
The vaccine, codenamed BNT116, is made by BioNTech using the same messenger RNA technology that underpins its highly effective COVID-19 vaccine. The experimental vaccine, from University College London Hospital, is much more precisely targeted than chemotherapy, doctors say, so it should not have the same collateral damage to healthy cells.
“It doesn’t hurt,” Racz told Sky News after his first injection. “It’s much better than chemotherapy, which was hard for me.”
According to experts, the vaccine, which uses mRNA, works by presenting common tumor markers to the patient’s immune system. This helps train their immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells that express these markers, but also potentially eliminates cells that can suppress the immune response.
Doctors say more than 100 patients with non-small cell lung cancer will participate in the trial. “If I were the hundredth or the first [study volunteer] “I don’t care. I think it will help me and other people if the vaccine is produced faster. COVID-19 vaccines have helped millions of people. This will also help millions of people,” Racz said.
How does the vaccine act on tumors?
Doctors say the vaccine can flag key components of the tumor as a threat, causing the body to respond by destroying cancer cells wherever they are. This would help reduce tumor size and the risk of recurrence. The trial will also confirm any major side effects the vaccine has before larger studies are conducted to establish its clinical efficacy.
The vaccine is expected to boost the immune system of volunteers, who will receive dozens of doses over 12 months.
What is non-small cell lung cancer??
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, which grows slowly but often spreads to other parts of the body when diagnosed. Early detection and treatment are therefore essential. Most, but not all, cases are caused by smoking. Many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when treatment is less effective. Currently, only about a quarter survive five years. It spreads to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, skin, lymph nodes or adrenal glands. When this happens, it is called metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
The National Health Service has started screening older smokers for lung cancer in the hope of detecting cases earlier. Anyone who develops symptoms, such as a cough that does not go away easily, chest pain and fatigue, should see a doctor immediately.
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