Cancer Vaccine Offers New Hope
A lung cancer patient in Thessaloniki has received a groundbreaking treatment with Moderna's experimental vaccine. This clinical trial marks the first time this personalised mRNA vaccine has been administered in Europe, aiming to prevent lung cancer recurrence.
This vaccine, also being tested for melanoma and other cancers, is used alongside immunotherapy for patients who have already undergone surgery and chemotherapy. It trains the immune system to recognise "neoantigens," proteins that appear only in cancer cells due to mutations.
The development process starts with a genetic analysis of the tumour to identify the target mutation. Moderna then creates an mRNA molecule specific to that patient's cancer.
The first administration in Greece was conducted by the Medical Trans-Balkan.
A Milestone in Cancer Treatment
"Personalised vaccine treatment is a significant milestone in the fight against lung cancer and cancer in general," said Sofia Baca, Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine at AUTH, who supervised the administration. "By customising vaccines for each patient, we aim to enhance the body's immune response against cancer cells, improving outcomes and quality of life."
This individualised treatment at the Transbalkanic Medical Center of Thessaloniki is also being given to patients with melanoma, with several patients already receiving it. Positive results from mid-stage clinical trials for melanoma have prompted Moderna to seek expedited approval from the US FDA. The vaccine is also under testing for head and neck cancers.
Further Developments in mRNA Vaccines in Oncology
German company BioNTech’s experimental vaccine for pancreatic cancer has also given positive preliminary results in the treatment of cancer, broadening the potential impact of mRNA vaccines in oncology.
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