New cancer vaccine could target 'invisible' stage to stop disease 'before it takes hold'

Oxford University has world-leading expertise in the study of pre-cancer biology, such as through identifying and sequencing neoantigens, which are proteins that forms on cancer cells and can be a target for drugs.

Several pharmaceutical firms have already had success with cancer vaccines that stop the disease coming back in people who already have established cancer.

Professor Sarah Blagden, from the University of Oxford, will co-lead the programme, which is backed by £50million from GSK.

She told the BBC: “Cancer does not sort of come from nowhere.

“You always imagine it would take about a year or two years to develop in your body but, in fact, we now know that cancers can take up to 20 years, sometimes even more, to develop – as a normal cell transitions to become cancerous.

“We know that, actually at that point, most cancers are invisible when they are going through this, what we now call pre-cancer stage.

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“And so the purpose of the vaccine is not to vaccinate against established cancer, but to actually vaccinate against that pre-cancer stage.”

She said Oxford had expertise in the pre-cancerous changes “so we can actually now start to sort of be able to detect the undetectable”.

She also said experts have “been able to work out what features those cells have as they’re transitioning towards cancer, and so we can design a vaccine specifically targeted against that.

“In this case, we’re actually going for the cancer itself, but going at it at the pre-cancer stage.”

Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, added: “We’re pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Oxford University and to combine the deep knowledge of Oxford and GSK scientists.

“By exploring pre-cancer biology and building on GSK’s expertise in the science of the immune system, we aim to generate key insights for people at risk of developing cancer.”

Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, also said: “This partnership represents a step forward in cancer research.

“By working with GSK to unite experts in clinical trials, immuno-oncology, vaccinology and pre-cancer research from across the University of Oxford, we aim to unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and bring hope to patients worldwide.”

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Cancer is a disease that has brought pain and heartbreak to every family in the country, including my own.

“But through our world-leading universities and businesses working in lockstep, like Oxford and GSK are doing here, we can harness science and innovation to transform what’s possible when it comes to diagnosing and treating this disease.”