‘Groundbreaking’ lung cancer vaccine being developed

Published

1 month ago

March 22, 2024

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Researchers are seeking to create the world’s first vaccine to prevent lung cancer in people who are at high risk of the disease.

Scientists from the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute and University College London (UCL) have used technology similar to the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to create the “LungVax,” a vaccine which activates the immune system to kill cancer cells and stop lung cancer.

The team has been granted up to £1.7m in funding by charities, Cancer Research UK and the CRIS Cancer Foundation, to manufacture 3,000 doses of the vaccine.

It works by using a strand of DNA which trains the immune system to recognise “red flag” proteins in lung cancer cells – known as neoantigens – and kill them.

These neoantigens appear on the surface of the cell because of cancer-causing mutations within the cell’s DNA.

According to data from Cancer Research UK, there are about 48,500 cases of lung cancer every year in the UK, 72% of which are caused by smoking.

However, the LungVax provides a “really important step forward” into a future where cancer is more preventable, Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of the charity, said.

“The science that successfully steered the world out of the pandemic could soon be guiding us toward a future where people can live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer,” she said.

“We’re in a golden age of research and this is one of many projects which we hope will transform lung cancer survival.”

If the vaccine can successfully show in a lab setting that it triggers an immune response, it will move into a clinical trial. Positive results from this could then lead to bigger trials for people at high risk of the disease.

High-risk people could include those aged 55-74 who currently smoke, have previously smoked and those who qualify for targeted lung health checks in parts of the UK.

“Fewer than 10% of people with lung cancer survive their disease for 10 years or more. That must change,” Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani of UCL and the Francis Crick Institute, who will lead the LungVax clinical trial, said.

“This research complements existing efforts through lung health checks to detect lung cancer earlier in people who are at greatest risk.”

She said based on early predictions the vaccine has the potential to cover around 90% of all lung cancers.

“LungVax will not replace stopping smoking as the best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer,” she said, adding that it could offer a viable route to preventing some of the earliest stage cancers from emerging in the first place.

Lola Manterola, president of the CRIS Cancer Foundation, based in South Kensington, London, called the study “groundbreaking” as it represents a firm step towards preventing cancer.

UK

Hainault sword attack: Man charged with murder after boy, 14, killed and four injured

Published

8 hours ago

May 1, 2024

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Hainault sword attack: Man charged with murder after boy, 14, killed and four injured

A man has been charged with murder after 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed and four people were injured near a London Tube station.

Two Metropolitan Police officers were among those hurt as they responded to reports of an attacker with a sword in Hainault, northeast London, on Tuesday.

The man charged has been named as Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a 36-year-old dual Spanish-Brazilian national from Newham, east London.

He has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

Monzo will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The families of all those affected by the incident have been informed.

Daniel Anjorin was a pupil at Bancroft’s private school in Woodford Green – also attended by Nottingham attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar.

Staff and pupils at the school said they were in “profound shock and sorrow” at his death.

Daniel’s family told Sky News he was “a wonderful child” who was “well loved” and “hard working” – and that his death “leaves a gaping wound in the family”.

“No family should have to go through what we are experiencing today,” they said. “Any family will understand it’s an absolute tragedy.”

Monzo is accused of crashing a van into a fence just before 7am, and attacking two members of the public with a sword.

It is alleged he then killed the 14-year-old and seriously injured two police officers as they tried to stop him – one of whom nearly lost her hand.

The suspect was initially taken to hospital after suffering injuries in the van crash.

Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the family of Daniel and all those who have been impacted by this horrific incident.”

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that they have a right to a fair trial,” she continued.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

UK

UK weather: Met Office issues thunderstorm warnings for southern England and South Wales

Published

8 hours ago

May 1, 2024

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UK weather: Met Office issues thunderstorm warnings for southern England and South Wales

The Met Office has issued warnings for rain and thunderstorms – with the alerts in place until Thursday morning.

The first warning began at 8pm and covers an area stretching from Portsmouth to Plymouth, and northwards to South Wales, and lasts until 8am.

Heavy rain is expected, with a chance of thunderstorms, and the Met Office said it could bring difficult driving conditions and some flooding.

The second warning kicks in at 11pm and covers nearly all of southeast England, stretching as far north as Oxford and including London. It’s in force until 6am on Thursday.

“Thunderstorms are likely at times later this evening and overnight, leading to travel disruption and some flooding,” said the Met Office.

There will be a risk of sudden flooding and power blackouts in both affected warning areas, added the forecaster.

There’s also a chance of hail and strong winds.

Flooding and lightning strikes could cause disruption on the roads, as well as delays and cancellations to rail and bus services.

Get the latest Sky News forecast for your area

Around 2cm to 4cm of rain is expected overnight, with 5cm possible in some places.

“Much of this rain may fall over a two or three-hour period,” the Met Office said.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “You may well get woken up tonight by a rumble of thunder, or some flashes of lightning across parts of the South.

“A lot of heavy rain falling in a short space of time as well.”

He said it could create a lot of spray and surface water on the roads for commuters on Thursday morning.

Read more from Sky News:
Boy arrested for attempted murder
Radcliffe comments on JK Rowling fallout

Elsewhere, it will stay dry with temperatures mostly holding up in double figures across England and Wales, or staying at around 8C to 9C in towns and cities further north.

Deakin said: “A cloudy start then to Thursday one way or another, still some heavy bursts of rain early on across the South West.

“That should tend to clear away, but always the likelihood of further showers across southern parts of England, Mid and South Wales.”

He added: “Parts of northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England, much of the Midlands down towards East Anglia should have a fine and sunny day tomorrow.”

UK

Scottish government survives vote of no confidence at Holyrood

Published

8 hours ago

May 1, 2024

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Scottish government survives vote of no confidence at Holyrood

The Scottish government has survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.

Scottish Labour pressed ahead with its motion despite Humza Yousaf announcing earlier this week his intention to stand down as SNP leader and first minister.

It failed by 58 votes to 70.

The Scottish Greens voted against the motion, with party co-leader Patrick Harvie branding it “chaos for the sake of chaos”.

If it had passed, all ministers in the minority SNP government would have been forced to quit.

Opening the debate, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar thanked Mr Yousaf for his service and wished him well, but said Scotland was “crying out for change” from the UK Conservative government and the SNP Scottish government.

He said the country needed “credible and effective leadership” to deal with “twin crises” in the economy and NHS.

Mr Sarwar added: “I have no confidence in the SNP’s ability to deliver that and that is why I am bringing this motion to parliament today.”

The outgoing first minister defended his government’s record, adding that in the 13 months he has spent in charge he had not “heard a single positive idea” from Scottish Labour.

Mr Yousaf added: “What I have heard is the deafening sound of principle after principle being thrown out of Anas Sarwar’s window.

“U-turning on the two-child cap, U-turning on the devolution of employment law, U-turning on the devolution of drug law, U-turning on his support for Waspi women.”

Mr Yousaf said pro-UK parties, in their “cosy Westminster alliance”, would be “terrified” of a vote of no confidence.

He added: “As I have found out only too well in the last few days, politics is definitely about the choices we choose to make.

“As a government, I am exceptionally proud of our choices.”

The debate and vote has come following the breakdown of the Bute House Agreement.

Within hours of the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens coming to an end last week, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross announced he would be bringing a motion of no confidence in the first minister.

Angry over the way the party was dumped from government, the Scottish Greens announced its MSPs would be backing the motion.

Scottish Labour then announced it was planning a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government.

Mr Yousaf reached out to his political opponents in an effort to stem the uprising but conceded that he had “underestimated the level of hurt and upset” his actions had caused Scottish Green colleagues.

Speaking to Sky News earlier on Wednesday, Mr Yousaf said: “I will certainly be regretting the way it ended.”

The Scottish Tories dropped their motion following Mr Yousaf’s resignation, but Scottish Labour pressed on as the party believes the decision on the next first minister should be put to the public.

Mr Yousaf intends to remain in post until his successor is announced.

Former deputy first minister John Swinney and ex-finance secretary Kate Forbes have emerged as potential frontrunners to throw their hat into the ring.

Mr Sarwar pointed to reports that Ms Forbes could struggle to appoint ministers and described Mr Swinney as “the finance secretary that broke the public finances and the worst education secretary in the history of the Scottish parliament”.

Mr Ross, whose party threw its support behind the Scottish Labour motion, was forced to apologise to Mr Swinney after referring to him as “not so honest John” in the Holyrood chamber.

Mr Ross was first reprimanded for referring to Mr Swinney as “honest John”, but when presiding officer Alison Johnstone reminded him not to use nicknames, he said: “Oh sorry, I thought it was on accuracy because it would be not so honest John with some of the things we’ve heard recently.”

Apologising, Mr Ross said: “I will apologise. I’m very sorry for any hurt caused.”

The Scottish Tory leader added: “Whether we have a bitter battle or a cosy coronation to elect the next leader of the SNP, they will continue campaigning for independence and the Scottish people will continue to be failed by them.”