Researchers study potential vaccine to prevent head and neck cancer

Researchers in Southampton and Malaysia are set to launch a pioneering study that could lead to a vaccine preventing head and neck cancer.

Teams based at the NIHR CRUK Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) and Cancer Research Malaysia, aim to study precancerous lesions in the mouth which, if left untreated, can progress into head and neck cancer.

The £600,000 award, led by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and funded from the Research Councils UK £1.5 billion Global Challenges Research Fund allocation, will focus on testing the lesions for distinctive markers which can then be targeted by vaccination.

Fighting head and neck cancer

While head and neck cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the UK and accounts for 3% of all new cases, it is the third most common among the Malaysian population.

After identifying target molecules, experts at the ECMC and Cancer Research Malaysia will work with biopharmaceutical company Icon Genetics, which uses plants to produce vaccines.

The collaboration will build on a grant awarded by the MRC and Academy of Sciences Malaysia to the same group earlier this year.

Building on Southampton’s strengths

While the team in Southampton are working on a number of new immunotherapy vaccines to treat various types of cancers, this will be the first study aimed at creating a vaccine to prevent a form of cancer developing.

“This study will help us to identify targets in premalignant disease that might – if untreated - turn into head and neck cancer,” explained Professor Christian Ottensmeier, a consultant medical oncologist and professor of experimental cancer medicine in Southampton.

“This is a particularly significant development for our centre in Southampton, as it will be the first in-house project to prevent cancer developing, and builds on our strength in successful vaccine development over many years.”

Preventing cancer before it develops

 “Up to 80% of oral cancers are preceded by a precancerous lesion,” said Professor Cheong, who leads the head and neck cancer team at Cancer Research Malaysia.

“This grant will enable us to identify unique proteins from precancerous lesions that can be used to activate the immune system to prevent the development of oral cancer, which could potentially benefit a large number of patients.”