Patients with skin cancer are being given fast-track access to a “revolutionary” vaccine trial in Southampton as part of an expanded initiative. The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) now includes patients with advanced melanoma, providing them with quicker access to promising new treatments.
The CVLP program connects eligible patients to studies developing vaccines aimed at fighting various cancers. The latest trial, known as SCOPE, focuses on a new DNA vaccine designed to boost the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells, thereby improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
The NHS has partnered with Scancell, a life-sciences company based in Oxford, to increase the number of patients with advanced melanoma who can take part in the trial. Professor Gareth Griffiths, director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, saying: “It’s fantastic to see the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad grow with the addition of this melanoma vaccine trial. Our team has worked closely with Scancell to bring this trial onto the CVLP platform. By participating in this groundbreaking program, we hope to increase referrals and offer more patients access to potentially life-saving treatments.”
Patients from several hospitals across the UK, including University Hospital Southampton (UHS), are already involved in the phase II SCOPE trial. Among them is Paul Thomas, a 63-year-old grandfather and window cleaner from New Milton, Hampshire. Diagnosed with advanced skin cancer in 2017, Thomas has expressed his gratitude for being part of the trial. “I feel so lucky to be included,” he said. “Thankfully, I was still quite fit, and since starting the trial, every time I go for a scan, my tumours seem to be shrinking. It’s really exciting.”
To mark the launch of the SCOPE trial, Health Minister Karin Smith, who has herself been treated for melanoma, visited the Southampton unit. She shared her personal experience, saying: “As someone who has overcome skin cancer, I know that every advancement in treatment brings hope to patients and their families. This innovative collaboration through our Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad could transform how we treat advanced melanoma.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also showed strong support for the trial, stating: “This kind of innovation is nothing short of life-saving, and I want to see more of these world-leading treatments being developed in the UK.”
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, accounting for around 4% of all new cancer cases. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) reports that melanoma cases have increased by a third between 2009 and 2019. While around half of melanoma patients respond to standard immunotherapy treatments, those who do not are at a higher risk of their cancer progressing.
The expansion of the CVLP and the SCOPE trial offers new hope for patients struggling with advanced melanoma, providing faster access to potentially life-saving treatments.
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