Daily London
The clinical study – led by the University of Queensland and South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) – will harness mRNA medicine to encourage the body’s immune system to fight cancerous cells.
The four-year trial will be rolled out at eight paediatric hospitals in Queensland, SA, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia later this year.
Young patients with “dismal outlooks” or a survival expectancy of between 12 and 24 months will be eligible for the trial.
This includes children with relapsed and unresponsive high-grade tumours, medulloblastoma, ependymoma, high-grade glioma and newly-diagnosed diffuse midline gliomas.
“This is a new, personalised approach to treating these especially difficult brain cancers that we believe has huge potential,” SAHMRI and Adelaide University clinical lead Professor Jordan Hansford said.
“Phase I of the trial will help us determine the safest and most effective dose.
“Phase II will assess how well the treatment works, including whether it slows cancer progression and improves overall survival and quality of life for participating children and their families.”
Hansford said half of all screened participants may be suitable for the trial.
Around 70 children from around Australia will take part in the trial over four years.
(The University of Queensland)
It takes about eight weeks to develop each vaccine, and each child is given eight shots, two weeks apart, before booster shots later down the track
Personalised mRNA vaccines have already shown promising results in adults with rare and difficult-to-treat cancers, such as pancreatic and melanoma.
The trial will provide a “glimmer of hope” for children with aggressive brain tumours, UQ’s Frazer Institute scientific lead Brandon Wainwright explained.
“After identifying unique cancer markers in each child’s tumour using genome sequencing and advanced data analysis, we will select tumour-specific vaccine targets,” Wainwright said.
“Customised vaccines for each child will then be manufactured in Queensland by Southern RNA and then sent to the trial sites for dosing.
“We expect to have a customised vaccine ready within about 10 weeks of them enrolling in the trial.”
About 40 Australian children die every year of brain cancer, which is the deadliest childhood cancer.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
