NHS to fast-track patients with head and neck cancer into cancer vaccine trial

Patients with advanced head and neck cancers in England will be fast-tracked into a trial of a new cancer vaccine, as the NHS expands its world-leading trial ‘match-making' service.

The cancer vaccine uses mRNA technology to help the immune system recognise and kill cancer cells containing human papillomavirus proteins.

More than 100 patients with advanced head and neck cancer in England will be matched to the trial, running at 15 NHS hospitals over the next year, supported by the NHS' Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP). 

This is the third cancer vaccine trial to be run through the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, which has already helped refer around 550 patients to trials of vaccines for bowel and skin cancers.

The first head and neck cancer patients in England have received the investigational mRNA cancer vaccine in the clinical trial, known as AHEAD-MERIT (BNT113), with more patients to soon be enrolled at their nearest NHS hospital. 

More than 11,000 new head and neck cancer cases are diagnosed in England every year, with cancers typically developing in the mouth, throat or voice box.  

Despite advances in care for patients with head and neck cancer, the aggressive form of the disease is difficult to treat and has high rates of recurrence, with two-year survival rates at under 50%.

The investigational cancer vaccine is designed to create two proteins that are frequently found in head and neck squamous cell cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV-16), the most common type of head and neck cancer (accounting for 95% of these types of cancers), with the vaccine training the immune system to fight the cancer.

NHS England is partnering with life sciences company BioNTech to help identify potentially eligible patients to refer to NHS hospitals running the clinical trial.

This is the third cancer vaccine trial to be run through the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, which has already helped refer around 550 patients to trials of vaccines for bowel and skin cancers.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England National Clinical Director for cancer said: “It's fantastic that more patients with advanced head and neck cancers will now be able to access this potentially transformative vaccine – it could offer renewed hope for patients, who often live in fear of this aggressive cancer returning, or keeping their cancer at bay, and has the potential to greatly enhance treatment options in the future.

“The NHS is always looking for evidence-backed innovations in treatment to improve survival and quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer, and this expansion of our Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad will give hundreds of patients the chance to be part of cutting-edge advances in cancer care.”

Chris Curtis, 67 years old, from Blackpool, was diagnosed with HPV related head and neck cancer in 2011 and set up a support charity, The Swallows. He said: “As a survivor of HPV-related head and neck cancer, I know first-hand the physical, emotional, and psychological toll this disease takes not just on the patient, but on the entire support system around them.

“When I was diagnosed with stage four tongue cancer and two secondary cancers, one each side of the neck, my world just fell apart. I then had to go through brutal treatment, including six weeks of radiotherapy, chemotherapy every week, two neck dissections and be fed on a tube for almost three years. I lost 12 stone in weight and was severely physically and mentally unwell.  

“With this aggressive cancer you live in the fear of reoccurrence every day – so anything that could help control the disease or give people peace of mind is groundbreaking – it'll allow people to get on with their lives and move forward.”

Minister for Health, Karin Smyth, said: "This is a massive win for cancer patients – and is exactly the kind of innovation we're aiming to deliver with our 10 Year Health Plan.

“These cancer vaccines could be game-changing for patients facing some of the most challenging diagnoses. By getting these trials running in our NHS, we're putting ourselves at the forefront of medical innovation, improving outcomes for people living with cancer.

“With our Plan for Change, we're building an NHS that's fit for future – one that is committed to transforming how cancer is treated and helping people to live longer.”

Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “Advancements in cancer research offer patients hope for a better quality of life, and a better chance of survival. This clinical trial is an important milestone for an exciting new approach for patients living with head and neck cancer.

"Our partnership with BioNTech is delivering for patients right across the country, and I hope to see more ambitious work like this as they continue to invest in Research and Development and AI as part of their billion-pound backing for the UK over the next ten years. We're determined to work closely with leading life sciences companies like BioNTech, to drive this thriving sector to even greater heights as part of our modern Industrial Strategy."

Tamara Kahn, CEO at Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK, said: "With two-thirds of head and neck cancer patients diagnosed at late stage and facing survival rates under 50% at two years, this cancer vaccine trial offers crucial hope to those living advanced stages of cancer.

“While we advocate for HPV vaccination to prevent these cancers, those already fighting this devastating disease urgently need new treatments that could mean more time with loved ones.

“We're encouraged by the NHS's commitment to fast-tracking eligible patients into this trial and look forward to working with them and the Department of Health in potentially improving outcomes for those facing this challenging cancer."

The CVLP is part of a strategic partnership between NHS England, the Government and BioNTech. It has been instrumental in accelerating trial activity in cancer research, with CVLP sites driving faster activation and enrolment timelines compared to a typical clinical trial process, enabling the acceleration of one recent study by nearly a year.

The ambitious programme aims to match thousands more cancer patients with cancer vaccine and immunotherapy trials for different types of cancer in future.

Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “The Cancer Vaccines Launch Pad is an important route to fast-track promising mRNA vaccine technology into clinical trials. It's great to see more clinical trials of vaccines for head and neck cancer supported by the Cancer Research UK-funded Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.

“Research into personalised cancer treatments is vital. There are over 200 different types of cancer and it's unlikely there will ever be a single cure that works for everyone. That's why it's vital that we support a wide range of research, so that more people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.” 

Dr Victoria Goss, Associate Professor of Early Diagnosis and Translational Research at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, said: “We are delighted to bring this latest trial onto the CVLP programme and give more people with advanced head and neck cancer the chance to take part in this exciting research.

“Our trials unit has great expertise in this area having run the very early phase trial of this experimental cancer vaccine, and it is fantastic to be working with BioNTech again to continue developing this potential new cancer treatment.”