World’s First Experimental Lung Cancer Vaccine Enters Clinical Trials

LungVax trains the immune system to detect and destroy early lung cancer cells, offering a potential new way to prevent the disease.

People at high risk of lung cancer are set to receive the first experimental vaccine aimed at preventing the disease in a world-first clinical trial (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
World’s first trial of lung cancer vaccine Launched

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Researchers at UCL and the University of Oxford have received funding of up to £2.06 million from Cancer Research UK, supported by the CRIS Cancer Foundation, to conduct a four-year clinical trial of the vaccine, named LungVax.

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Determining Optimal LungVax Dose and Safety

The initial phase I trial will determine the optimal dose of LungVax for individuals at high risk of lung cancer and evaluate any potential side effects from varying doses. The trial is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026, pending regulatory approval.

Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, co-founder and lead of the LungVax clinical trials from UCL Cancer Institute, UCLH, and the Francis Crick Institute, highlighted the urgent need for preventative strategies, noting that fewer than 10% of lung cancer patients survive beyond ten years. She emphasized that early intervention is key to changing these outcomes.

Vaccine Target and Immune System Activation

The LungVax trial will closely monitor participants’ responses to the vaccine, its ease of administration, and the identification of individuals who could benefit most in the future.

While preventative vaccines will not replace smoking cessation as the primary method of reducing lung cancer risk, they may offer a new approach to stopping certain cancers from developing.

Lung cancer cells display ‘red flag’ proteins, known as neoantigens and tumor-associated antigens, which result from cancer-causing DNA mutations. These markers appear on the surface of cells in the earliest stages of lung cancer formation.

Mechanism of Vaccine Action

LungVax carries genetic instructions designed to train the immune system to recognize these tumor antigens on abnormal lung cells. The goal of the trial is to enable the immune system to detect and destroy these early abnormal cells before they progress into cancer. The vaccine uses technology developed by the University of Oxford during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver these immune instructions.

Professor Sarah Blagden, co-founder of LungVax at the University of Oxford, described the project as an opportunity to actively prevent a disease that has historically had very poor survival rates. Years of research into the earliest biological changes in lung cancer will now be tested in clinical trials.

Focusing On Early-Stage Lung Cancer Survivors

The trial will initially focus on individuals diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer who have had successful tumor removal but remain at risk of recurrence.

Additionally, the vaccine will be evaluated in participants undergoing lung cancer screening through the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme in England.

Should the trial produce encouraging outcomes, larger studies will be conducted to assess the vaccine’s efficacy among a broader population at risk of lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Incidence and Risk Factors

In the UK, approximately 48,500 new lung cancer cases occur annually, with around 72% attributable to smoking, which remains the leading preventable cause of cancer globally.

Graeme Dickie, 55, from Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, is assisting with preparations for the LungVax trial. Diagnosed with stage II lung cancer in 2013 and progressing to stage IV by 2017 despite never having smoked, he has undergone lung surgery, over 80 rounds of chemotherapy, and is currently on the targeted drug mobocertinib.

Patient Shares Impact of Scientific Advancements

Graeme emphasized the life-saving impact of research, stating that scientific advancements have allowed him to enjoy more time with his family. Although he will not personally benefit from LungVax, he believes his story will help others access early interventions.

Professor Sarah Blagden will also feature in the first episode of Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures on Channel 4. Produced in partnership with Cancer Research UK, the documentary highlights researchers leading groundbreaking projects in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Future Opportunities for Cancer Prevention

Cancer Research UK expressed optimism about a future where more cancers are prevented. The knowledge gained from years of research into cancer biology is opening opportunities for preventative measures.

By funding the LungVax trial, the organization aims to rigorously test the vaccine and take a pivotal step toward a future where people can live longer, healthier lives free from the threat of lung cancer.

In conclusion, LungVax represents a groundbreaking step in lung cancer prevention by teaching the immune system to recognize and eliminate early abnormal cells.

If successful, it could transform outcomes for high-risk individuals and offer a complementary approach alongside traditional prevention strategies such as smoking cessation.

Reference:

1. World’s first trial of lung cancer vaccine launched – (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/nov/worlds-first-trial-lung-cancer-vaccine-launched)

Source-Medindia