The University of Oxford’s Centre for Cancer Early Detection and Prevention announced in September 2024 that Cancer Research UK has awarded a team of scientists up to £550,000 to carry out “underpinning work” to test a vaccine for patients with Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is associated with a higher overall risk of developing some types of cancer. The vaccine, if successful, could protect people with Lynch syndrome before cancer begins to develop.
Lynch syndrome
A heritable genetic condition, Lynch syndrome is caused by an altered copy of a gene that is involved in processes that support DNA repair. Failure to repair DNA can cause damage to genes that control growth. This increases the risk of cancer. People with Lynch syndrome have a “higher overall risk” of developing bowel cancer and other cancers such as womb cancer (endometrial cancer) and ovarian cancer.
Up to 7 in 10 people with Lynch syndrome develop bowel cancer in their lifetime. It is estimated to cause around 3% of bowel cancer cases in the UK each year. Although between 175,000-200,000 people are estimated to have Lynch syndrome in the UK, fewer than 5% have been diagnosed.
Vaccine potential
The team at Oxford will analyse pre-cancerous cells from people with Lynch syndrome to determine which parts of a pre-cancer are potential immune targets. They will then design a vaccine that encourages the immune system to recognise pre-cancer cells and destroy them before they develop into cancer. The researchers will continue working with people with Lynch syndrome, who have helped to co-develop the project so far. They will also consult people living with Lynch syndrome to understand their views about using vaccination to prevent cancer.
Free from fear of cancer
Associate Professor David Church, Cancer Research UK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow and co-lead of the LynchVax team at Oxford reflects that “less than 5% of people with Lynch syndrome are aware that they have the condition”. However, “it accounts for an estimated 1,300 cases of bowel cancer and increases the risk of other types of cancer”.
“We hope our research will lay the early foundations to potentially prevent these cases through vaccination, removing the fear of cancer from people whose chances of developing it in their lifetime are far higher.”
Professor Simon Leedham, Honorary Consultant Gastroenterologist and co-lead of the LynchVax team agrees that LynchVax “has the potential” to reduce the “very high risk” of developing these cancers for people with Lynch syndrome.
“While our work is in its infancy, we are excited by the prospect of a vaccine that can potentially be used to prevent the multiple types of cancer that typically occur in people with Lynch syndrome and deliver tangible improvements in survival.”
Helen White is a member of the LynchVax patient and public involvement group and is “delighted” to be a part of developing the “potentially life-changing vaccine for people like me with Lynch syndrome”.
“As passionate advocates for involving people with lived experience in research, we fully endorse the plans to reach out to the wider Lynch syndrome community to gather their views on a cancer-preventing vaccine. This is a crucial step in preparing for future clinical trials.”
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive comments that cancer vaccines “continue to show promise in helping to create a world where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer”.
“Projects like LynchVax are a really important step forward into an exciting future, where cancers that occur in people with Lynch syndrome could potentially be prevented. This is one of many cancer vaccine projects Cancer Research UK is funding that we hope will reduce the number of cancer cases over the coming decades.”
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