Top recruiter for cancer vaccine trial | News

Royal Surrey is the top recruiting site for a national cancer vaccine trial that aims to help find a new life saving treatment for bowel cancer.

To date 29 patients with colorectal cancer have been put forward to the cancer vaccine trial, including four in the last month. This is more than any other centre in the country.

Royal Surrey’s Principle Investigator, Dr Sophie Otter, said: “We know that even after a successful operation and chemotherapy, cancers can sometimes return. This is because a few cancer cells remain in the body. Using a vaccine to target those cells may be a way of stopping this from happening.

“I am delighted that we are able to make trials such as this one available to our patients in Guildford and our success shows how interested patients are in taking part in cancer vaccine research.”

The vaccine is created by analysing a patient’s tumour to identify mutations specific to their own cancer. Using this information, medics then create an experimental individualised cancer vaccine. The vaccine is designed to induce an immune response that may prevent cancer from returning after surgery and chemotherapy, by stimulating the patient’s immune system to specifically recognise and potentially destroy the remaining cancer cells.

After being referred to the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad, patients undergo further eligibility checks before they can participate in the trial. The vaccine is then administered at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital.