The University of Birmingham has launched Europe's first clinical trial investigating the use of an mRNA-based vaccine to combat pancreatic cancer, a significant advance in personalized cancer immunotherapy. The vaccine, known as autogene cevumeran (BNT122), is being developed through a collaboration between BioNTech and Genentech, and is tailored to individual patients by leveraging neoantigen-specific immunotherapy (iNeST) technology.

Pancreatic cancer, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), presents one of the most dire prognoses in oncology, with a 5% survival rate beyond 10 years. Surgery remains the most effective treatment, but recurrence is tragically common, occurring in 75% of cases within a year. The objective of this trial is to deploy mRNA technology to create a personalized vaccine based on the specific proteins found in each patient's tumor, training their immune system to recognize and destroy lingering cancer cells. The study will recruit patients undergoing surgery for PDAC, with participants divided into two groups: one receiving the mRNA vaccine in combination with chemotherapy, and the other undergoing standard chemotherapy alone​ (University of Birmingham) ​(University Hospitals Birmingham).

The investigational vaccine's use of mRNA echoes the global success of COVID-19 vaccines, which have demonstrated the technology’s ability to stimulate potent immune responses. However, the transition from infectious diseases to oncology presents unique challenges and opportunities. mRNA’s versatility lies in its ability to quickly generate vaccines tailored to an individual's tumor, offering a potentially transformative approach to combatting cancer recurrence ​(University Hospitals Birmingham)​(University of Birmingham).

Led by Dr. Shivan Sivakumar, Associate Professor in Oncology at the University of Birmingham and Consultant Medical Oncologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), the trial is positioning Birmingham as a leader in European cancer research. “We are incredibly proud that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is the first site in Europe to enrol a patient into this investigational pancreatic cancer vaccine trial,” Dr. Sivakumar remarked, emphasizing the pioneering role the trial plays in advancing cancer treatment ​(University of Birmingham) ​(University of Birmingham).

This trial forms part of a larger effort at QEHB to bring novel cancer therapies to patients, as the institution recently became the first in Europe to open an immunotherapy study for cholangiocarcinoma, another deadly cancer type. Birmingham’s leading pancreatic cancer research unit, combined with its diverse patient population, makes it the ideal location for this innovative trial. The trial is supported by world-class infrastructure, including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (CRF)​ (University of Birmingham) ​(University of Birmingham).

If successful, the trial could represent a breakthrough in the fight against one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Dr. Chris Macdonald, Head of Research at Pancreatic Cancer UK, highlighted the significance of this development, noting, “For too long we have had so few treatment options for people with pancreatic cancer. If this research proves successful, the vaccine could be a vital new weapon against the deadliest common cancer” ​(University Hospitals Birmingham).

With the trial now underway, the oncology community will be closely monitoring the results, which could redefine post-operative cancer care and provide a powerful new tool in preventing pancreatic cancer recurrence ​(University of Birmingham) (University of Birmingham).