The first patient to receive an mRNA vaccine against bowel cancer has spoken to the media.
“Participating in this experience fits my profession as a speaker and my personality. I am very invested in my community: I therefore want to have a positive impact on the lives of others and help them realize their potential”, said Elliot Phebve. “If it is successful, this trial could help thousands, if not millions, of people. I wish they would not experience what I experienced,” he added.
mRNA vaccine against colorectal cancer: where does this project come from?
Father of four, Elliot Phebve is a 55-year-old British university professor who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer following a routine check-up. First the tumor and part of his intestine were removed, then he underwent chemotherapy and was invited to take part in a trial set up by the “Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad”.
The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is a program that aims to enable people with cancer to participate in trials testing mRNA vaccines. The goal is to accelerate the development of these treatments which could one day perhaps be a game-changer in oncology.
mRNA colorectal cancer vaccine: how does it work?
Already tested during the Covid-19 epidemic or even on glioblastoma, mRNA vaccines can in fact be personalized according to tumors and patient profiles. Combined with surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatments, they aim to help the body eliminate residual tumor cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.
“As these trials are rolled out to hospitals across the country, our department will ensure that as many eligible patients as possible have the opportunity to access them.”explained Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS.
The UK government has teamed up with manufacturer BioNTech and committed to providing 10,000 patients with precision cancer treatment by 2030. There are plans to expand the program to many types of cancer, including very virulent pancreatic cancer.
France: colorectal cancer causes 50 deaths per day
“At the origin of 50 deaths per day, colorectal cancer is the 3rd most fatal cancer among women in France and the 2nd among men,” recalls the League against Cancer.
Two elements explain this high mortality rate in France: low participation in screening and the very late appearance of the first symptoms of the disease.
