World's first ovarian cancer vaccine 'could wipe out the disease'

The world's first vaccine for ovarian cancer, which is being developed in the UK, could eradicate the lethal disease, according to researchers.

Scientists at the University of Oxford are developing OvarianVax, a vaccine that instructs the immune system to identify and combat the earliest stages of ovarian cancer.

The aim is for the jab to be administered preventatively to women on the NHS with the objective of eliminating the disease.

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Specialists propose it could function similarly to the human papillomavirus (HPV) jab, which is expected to eradicate cervical cancer.

For this new endeavour, Professor Ahmed Ahmed, director of the ovarian cancer cell laboratory at MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford, and his team are pinpointing cellular targets for the vaccine.

They will determine which proteins on the surface of early-stage ovarian cancer cells are most strongly recognised by the immune system, and how effectively the vaccine eradicates mini-models of ovarian cancer in the lab.

They will then progress to human clinical trials in individuals with BRCA gene mutations which significantly heighten the risk of ovarian cancer and healthy women in the general population to ascertain if the disease could be prevented.

Cancer Research UK is financing the study with up to £600,000 over the forthcoming three years.

Prof Ahmed told the PA news agency that, should the jab prove successful, he anticipates seeing an impact within the next five years.

Asked about the potential of eradicating ovarian cancer with a new vaccine, he said: "Absolutely that would be the aim. We still have a long way to go but it is a really exciting time. I'm very optimistic myself."

Scientists will create the vaccine in the lab, with the aim of training the immune system to recognise more than 100 proteins on the surface of ovarian cancer, known as tumour-associated antigens. Subsequently, the vaccine will undergo trials involving patients affected by the illness.

Professor Ahmed conveyed hope for the experimental treatment, explaining: "The idea is, if you give the vaccine, these tiny tumours will hopefully either reduce, shrink really significantly, or disappear. That would give us the sign that the vaccine is working."

Anticipating further progress, the next phase of research would encompass women carrying BRCA mutations and ultimately expand to incorporate a broad spectrum of women who arent already affected, to determine "the vaccine would be suitable for all" in staving off ovarian cancer.

Prof Ahmed said: “Let’s imagine that it all goes well, and the vaccine really works well. Now, the obvious population who would benefit from this are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, because they have a very high chance of getting ovarian cancer.

“If you give it to those patients and it’s effective, then you get the best health economics and the best cost-effectiveness. The question then becomes – would it really benefit the general population? … Could you offer it to everyone?”

At present, there's no screening test for ovarian cancer, which is often diagnosed at advanced stages due to symptoms like bloating and loss of appetite being easily overlooked. Yet, it's acknowledged that women with BRCA mutations, such as Angelina Jolie, face a heightened risk.

Statistics reveal that nearly 45 per cent of individuals with a modified BRCA1 gene and around 20 per cent with a changed BRCA2 gene will encounter ovarian cancer by age 80, in stark contrast to the mere 2 per cent within the broader population.

Currently, those with BRCA1/2 variations are advised to undergo ovary removal by 35, a procedure that precipitates premature menopause and ends the possibility of future childbirth.

Prof Ahmed has expressed that carriers of the BRCA mutation could see significant advantages from the novel vaccine as "they wouldn't then have to have their ovaries removed".

Nonetheless, he conveyed that his team is focused on incorporating the most effective components into the vaccine to ensure it "would be effective for as many people as possible", reaching beyond just those with the mutation.

He further commented: "I am optimistic because we are talking about preventing the very first few cancer cells that develop and not trying to cure or treat or prevent the tumour coming back. I'm hoping that, because the number of cells that we will be targeting is quite small, we will have success. We've seen success with the HPV vaccine it's really, really incredibly effective."

Prof Ahmed told PA that "while the full blown timeline" for a vaccine being approved "might be many years away", the potential impact of a successful vaccine could be felt much sooner.

He expressed optimism that, through clinical trials, the effects of the vaccine on the healthy population might begin to emerge "in four or five years on the healthy population".

In the UK, there are approximately 7,500 new cases of ovarian cancer each year, with BRCA mutations playing a role in about 5 to 15 per cent of these instances.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Projects like OvarianVax are a really important step forward into an exciting future, where cancer is much more preventable. This funding will power crucial discoveries in the lab which will realise our ambitions to improve ovarian cancer survival.

“OvarianVax builds on the exciting developments in vaccine technology during the pandemic. This is one of many projects which we hope will give women longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”