A New Vaccine May Help Stop The Return Of Certain Colorectal Pancreatic Cancers.

• According to researchers, a potential breakthrough vaccine holds promise in reducing the likelihood of colorectal and pancreatic cancer relapse in specific patients.
  
  
• The researchers performed a clinical trial with a small group, finding that the vaccination caused an immune response in all participants.
  
  
• Colorectal and pancreatic cancer rank among the most lethal and challenging types of cancer to manage.

Despite being in the early stages of development, the trial's lead researchers express optimism about the promising results thus far.

Colorectal and pancreatic cancer rank second and third on the list of deadliest cancers, claiming numerous lives each year.

The new vaccine explicitly targets two genetic mutations in KRAS genes, namely KRAS G12D and KRAS G12R.

KRAS genes play a crucial role in controlling cell division and growth. While they are typically harmless, mutations in KRAS can lead to cancer development. KRAS mutations are present in a significant percentage of cancer cases, particularly in colon cancer, where the prevalence is even higher. These mutations not only decrease survival rates but also contribute to more aggressive tumour growth, making them an appealing target for cancer therapies aimed at blocking their activity and halting cancer progression.

An “Off The Shelf” Cancer Vaccine

The new vaccine aims to provide long-term protection against cancer recurrence following conventional treatment by instructing the immune system to identify and attack particular KRAS mutations.

The vaccine is a standardised product that can be readily administered to any individual without customisation. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing cancer treatment protocols as an adjunct therapy.

Our goal is to target and eliminate micrometastatic disease, which refers to cancer cells that are too small to be detected by scans but can potentially recur within a few months. By utilising this vaccine, we aim to eradicate these hidden cancer cells and prevent their regrowth effectively.

This groundbreaking immunotherapy targets the specific mutant proteins found within cancer cells, offering a promising new approach to treatment.

Immune System Response Is Essential.

In over 80% of the participants in the trial, Pant and his team noticed a T-cell response, suggesting that the vaccine effectively triggered an immune system reaction.

The participants who received the highest drug dose exhibited a robust T cell response, directly correlated with improved survival rates and a reduced risk of cancer recurrence.

To experience the benefits, participants had to reach a specific threshold for their T-cell response. If their T cell response exceeded the median, they did not experience a recurrence of cancer, but further monitoring is still underway. Conversely, participants who did not meet this threshold saw an average cancer recurrence within four months.

The critical issue here is that even after surgical removal of pancreatic and colorectal cancer, relapse rates remain high. Unfortunately, once relapse occurs, the tumour is typically incurable. Therefore, this period of post-surgery care is crucial, as preventing or delaying relapse could significantly increase the chances of curing patients, a rare occurrence in oncology research.

By monitoring the circulating tumour DNA (CTDNA) levels in the bloodstream, researchers can determine the presence or absence of cancer. High quantities of CTDNA may indicate the presence of cancer, while a decrease in CTDNA levels suggests a shrinking tumour. Conversely, the lack of CTDNA in the bloodstream can be a positive indicator of remission and the absence of cancer.

The promising findings from the initial trial, which demonstrated a reduction in CTDNA levels in 84% of participants, have paved the way for a follow-up phase 2 trial. This subsequent trial aims to delve deeper into the safety and effectiveness of ELI-002, building upon the positive results observed in the first trial.

Although it is still in the early stages and requires further validation through a larger trial, the initial findings are promising and suggest the possibility of curing some of these patients, which is highly exciting.

The Trial Met Safety And Tolerability Goals.

The trial, conducted between 2021 and 2023, involved 25 individuals who had previously received surgery and chemotherapy for cancer. These participants, deemed high risk for cancer recurrence, consisted of 20 individuals treated for pancreatic cancer and five individuals treated for colorectal cancer.

The trial consisted of participants with an average age of 61, with the majority being white (84%). Additionally, 60% of the patients enrolled in the trial were female.

During the trial, participants were administered a fixed dose of Amph-Peptides 2P (G12D and G12R, 0.7 milligrams each). Simultaneously, the dosage of Amph-CpG-7909, a compound that enhances the treatment's efficacy, was gradually escalated from 0.1 milligrams to a final dosage of 10 milligrams.

To determine the safety and tolerability of the drug, the researchers conducted an initial phase of the trial consisting of six injections, followed by four booster shots. By achieving their goals in this study, the researchers can now proceed to a larger pool of participants.

Not only did all the participants tolerate the drug well without any signs of toxicity, but they also did not report any significant adverse health effects or side effects, including the potential development of cytokine release syndrome commonly associated with immunotherapies.

The side effects of the drug, including fatigue, injection site reaction, and myalgia, were reported to be relatively mild in the study. Compared to treatments like chemotherapy, the vaccine's side effects were much less severe.

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