Lung cancer patient is first in UK to receive experimental vaccine
A lung cancer patient has become the first in the UK to receive a new experimental vaccine to help his body fight the disease.
Janusz Racz, 67, had six syringes of the jab, each containing genetic material for a different part of the tumour, to train five billion cells in his immune system to go on the attack.
The vaccine, codenamed BNT116, is made by BioNTech using the same mRNA technology that underpinned its highly effective COVID jab.
Doctors say it is far more precisely targeted than chemotherapy so shouldn’t have the same collateral damage on healthy cells that causes sometimes overwhelming side effects.
“It’s painless,” Mr Racz said after his first jab.
“It’s much better than chemo, which was hard for me.”
Sky News was given exclusive access to University College London Hospital (UCLH) as doctors began the UK arm of a worldwide trial of the vaccine.
About 130 patients with non-small cell lung cancer will take part in the study, with six hospitals in the UK involved.
“If I was the hundredth or the first [study volunteer] it does not matter for me,” Mr Racz said.
“I believe it will help me – and help other people if the vaccine goes to production faster.
“COVID vaccines helped millions of people. This will also help millions of people.”
Mr Racz was highly active before he became ill, climbing several mountains and running marathons in seven countries. He is so positive about his future that he has set himself the goal of running the London marathon within the next three years.
How it works
Cancer has an invisibility cloak, hiding from the immune system. But the vaccine flags key components of the tumour as a threat, hopefully triggering the body to respond by obliterating cancer cells wherever they are.
Early trials on similar vaccines in other cancers have proved promising, with a reduction in tumour size and risk of recurrence.
This is the first time the BioNTech jab has been tested in humans. The trial will confirm whether there are any major side effects before doctors proceed to larger studies to establish clinical effectiveness.
Volunteers will receive dozens of doses over 12 months to keep boosting their immune system.
Dr Sarah Benafif, who is running the clinical trial at UCLH, has high hopes.
“We already have some data that this is quite a well-tolerated type of vaccine,” she said.
“We hope in time we are able to show that the treatment is effective against lung cancer whilst leaving other tissues untouched.”
Read more: BBC presenter Lauren Laverne reveals she has cancer
Cancer: Six people diagnosed every hour because of smoking, charity warns
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of the disease. Most, though not all, cases are caused by smoking.
Many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment is less effective. Currently, only around a quarter survive for five years.
Unusually the clinical trial will include patients with early disease who have yet to undergo surgery or radiotherapy, as well as those who have cancer that has spread or returned.
It keeps options open on how best to use the vaccine to improve outcomes for people with cancer.
Vaccines ‘could be revolutionary’
Professor Siow Ming Lee, an oncologist at UCLH and clinical lead for the UK part of the study, said new treatments are desperately needed.
“You’ve got 1.8 million deaths worldwide from lung cancer, many in the developing countries,” he said.
“Hopefully we can start with our first generation of mRNA vaccine, and then roll it out to the rest of the world.”
The NHS has begun screening older smokers for lung cancer in the hope of picking up cases earlier. Anyone with symptoms, including a cough that won’t go away, chest pain and fatigue should see a doctor.
NHS England national cancer director Dame Cally Palmer said: “The NHS has a leading role globally in trialling cancer vaccines and if we are successful, they could be revolutionary in vaccinating people against their own cancers to prevent the cancer recurring after their initial treatment.
“Pioneering work is being undertaken by hospitals throughout the country with their university and industry partners to look at ways of harnessing the body’s own immune system to treat a range of cancers.
“A cancer diagnosis is very worrying, but access to groundbreaking trials – alongside other innovations to diagnose and treat cancers earlier – provides hope. We expect to see thousands more patients taking part in trials over the next few years.”
A mother-of-four was among two skydivers who died following a “tragic accident” at an airfield in Devon.
Belinda Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene following Friday afternoon’s incident in the area of Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton.
On Facebook, her partner Scott Armstrong wrote: “I miss you so much, you were my best friend.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, from making my children feel at home to putting up with my mess.
“… there’s just so much that I don’t have the words to express it.
“I feel so lost. I don’t know where home is without you.”
Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton, Devon. Pic: Google Street View
Ms Taylor’s eldest son, Connor Bowles, paid tribute to a “selfless woman” who was also a grandmother to two young children.
Thanking investigators for their work so far, he told DevonLive: “She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.”
The identity of the second skydiver who died is yet to be made public, but their family has been informed.
British Skydiving has confirmed it will be investigating the incident – with a report sent to the coroner, the Civil Aviation Authority and the police.
Read more UK news:
Woman to head MI6 for the first time
Cost of rural crime in Wales is surging
In a statement, SkydiveBuzz, which operates at the airfield, said its “deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and everyone affected by this devastating event”.
A spokesperson added: “Safety is, and always has been, our top priority. We are fully cooperating with the investigation and continue to uphold the highest possible standards in everything we do.
“No further details will be provided at this time. We respectfully ask for privacy for all those affected, including our team, during this incredibly difficult time.”
Career spy Blaise Metreweli will become the first woman to head MI6 in a “historic appointment”, the prime minister has announced.
She will take over from Sir Richard Moore as the 18th Chief, also known as “C”, when he steps down in the autumn.
“The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital,” Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement released on Sunday night.
“The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services.”
Of the other main spy agencies, GCHQ is also under female command for the first time.
Anne Keast-Butler took on the role in 2023, while MI5 has previously twice been led by a woman.
Until now, a female spy chief had only headed MI6 – also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) – in the James Bond movies.
Blaise Metreweli is the first woman to be named head of MI6. Pic: Reuters
Dame Judi Dench held the fictional role – called “M” in the films instead of “C” – between 1995 and 2015.
Ms Metreweli currently serves as “Q”, one of four director generals inside MI6.
The position – also made famous by the James Bond films, with the fictional “Q” producing an array of spy gadgets – means she is responsible for technology and innovation.
Ms Metreweli, a Cambridge graduate, joined MI6 in 1999.
Unlike the outgoing chief, who spent some of his service as a regular diplomat in the foreign office, including as ambassador to Turkey, she has spent her entire career as an intelligence officer.
Much of that time was dedicated to operational roles in the Middle East and Europe.
Ms Metreweli, who is highly regarded by colleagues, also worked as a director at MI5.
Read more:
Ex-government contractor charged under Official Secrets Act
The Wargame podcast: What if Russia attacked the UK?
Chancellor dismisses ‘hurt feelings’ after grooming gangs inquiry U-turn
In a statement, she said she was “proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service”.
“MI6 plays a vital role – with MI5 and GCHQ – in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she said.
“I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”
Sir Richard said: “Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut