Key facts
- Vaccines are being developed to target gene-caused colon cancer in individuals with Lynch syndrome.
- Lynch syndrome is an inherited genetic mutation that greatly increases the risk of developing colorectal and other cancers.
- Early clinical trials of potential vaccines have shown promising results in reducing precancerous growths.
- At least three different vaccine candidates are currently in development or early-stage testing.
Scientists are developing novel vaccines aimed at intercepting colon cancer in individuals with Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that significantly elevates cancer risk. This approach seeks to train the immune system to identify and neutralize precancerous abnormalities before they develop into full-blown tumors.
Dr. Stacy Norton, who has Lynch syndrome and lost her mother to colon cancer, is participating in early clinical trials for one such vaccine. She expressed hope that these advancements could alleviate the need for frequent colonoscopies for herself and her children, who also inherited the mutation.
Lynch syndrome arises from faulty mismatch-repair genes, which normally fix DNA errors. When these genes malfunction, abnormalities can accumulate, leading to tumor formation, often at a young age. While the average person has a 5% risk of colorectal cancer, Lynch carriers can face up to an 80% risk.
At least three vaccine candidates are in development. One, from Swiss biotech Nouscom, targets 209 abnormalities associated with Lynch-caused precancers. Early study results, reported in Nature Medicine, indicated that the vaccine stimulated tumor-eliminating T cells and, a year later, colonoscopies showed fewer precancerous growths. Researchers are awaiting further data on booster shots.
Other efforts include a vaccine from Moderna, utilizing mRNA technology, and ImmunityBio's Tri-Ad5 vaccine, which flags different cancer markers. These developments offer a potential new strategy in cancer prevention, moving beyond vaccines that target infectious agents like HPV and hepatitis B.