Vaccines for Lynch Syndrome Carriers
Medical researchers have initiated clinical trials for vaccines designed to intercept colorectal cancer before it manifests in individuals with Lynch syndrome. This genetic condition, which affects approximately 1 in 279 people, prevents the body’s “spellcheck” genes from repairing DNA errors, leading to an exceptionally high risk of colorectal, endometrial, and other cancers.
A recent study published in Nature Medicine highlighted a vaccine candidate from Swiss biotech firm Nouscom. In an initial trial involving 45 participants, including Houston-based obstetrician Dr. Stacy Norton, the vaccine successfully stimulated tumor-eliminating T cells to recognize proteins generated by Lynch-associated mutations. One year post-vaccination, participants showed a reduction in precancerous growths and a notable absence of advanced polyps.
Dr. Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, who leads the research, plans to launch a larger clinical trial early next year. Meanwhile, other initiatives are underway: Oxford University is beginning tests using Moderna’s mRNA technology, and researchers are analyzing data from a study of ImmunityBio’s Tri-Ad5 vaccine.
Targeting Glioblastoma Resistance
In a separate development, researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute have identified a potential new target to improve the treatment of glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.
The study, published in Cancer Letters, focuses on a protein called SET. Glioblastoma cells utilize SET, alongside proteins like ANP32A and CIP2A, to block the activity of PP2A, a tumor-suppressor protein. By suppressing these inhibitory proteins in preclinical models, researchers were able to make cancer cells significantly more sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy.
“Glioblastoma is hard to treat because it can adapt and survive,” said Dr. Arnab Chakravarti, chair of radiation oncology at the OSUCCC–James. The team is currently investigating whether this pathway can be safely targeted in humans, noting that while an existing FDA-approved antipsychotic drug has shown potential to increase PP2A activity in lab settings, it is not yet ready for clinical use in oncology patients.