The "Game-Changing" Cancer Jab
A potential new treatment for the deadly skin cancer, melanoma, has been described as a game-changer. It uses the same mRNA technology as some Covid jabs. So what's the next step?
Steve Young, who is 52 and from Stevenage, is one of the first NHS patients to take part in a trial of the world's first "personalised" mRNA vaccine against the deadliest form of skin cancer: melanoma.
The jab is designed to help his immune system recognise and wipe out any remaining cancerous cells. And hopefully, that means his cancer will not return.
Experts in some other countries, including Australia, are also trying it on patients, to gather more evidence and see whether it should be rolled out more widely. The vaccine is personalised - meaning the make-up of it is changed to suit the individual patient.
Dr Heather Shaw, the national coordinating investigator for the trial at UCLH, described the vaccine as a "game-changer", particularly as it appeared to have "relatively tolerable side effects".
In this episode of 5 Questions On, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ health reporter Michelle Roberts explains how it works - and whether it could change the way we approach cancer treatment in the future.
(Image: PA)
