Gene therapy boost for kidney cancer patients

Dec 24 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

KIDNEY cancer patients in Merseyside could be given new hope with the launch of a major new gene therapy trial.

Leading cancer centre, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, is offering suitable patients the option to receive a vaccine treatment that may slow the progression of their kidney, or renal, cancer.

The Wirral-based hospital is one of just 120 centres across the world taking part in the trial of the treatment which is hoped to increase life expectancy.

Dr Ernie Marshall, who is leading the study at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, said: “Vaccines have been successful in preventing disease caused by foreign invading bacteria or viruses.

“This has prompted much research to test if vaccines can be made to prevent or treat cancer.

“National experts in the treatment of kidney cancer are supporting this trial, and we are one of only a handful of hospitals in the country that is in a position to be able to take part.

“We take our research responsibilities extremely seriously and are committed to improving outcomes for kidney cancer patients.

“Data gathered from this important study will possibly change the way that future patients are treated.”

Gene therapy is essentially a means of fixing a problem at its source.

By adding a corrected copy of the gene, it helps the affected cells, tissues and organs to work properly.

The treatment differs from traditional drug-based approaches, which may treat the problem but which do not repair the underlying genetic flaw.

Studies completed so far indicate that the newly-available TroVax vaccine switches on the body’s production of antibodies and immune cells against a substance found on the surface of kidney cancer cells.

Two hundred patients have already been treated with the vaccine and a larger international study is now vital to assess whether or not this treatment fights cancer.

The vaccine is administered by a simple injection into the upper arm of the patient. This injection is repeated throughout treatment, as the immune effects produced by such vaccines only last a few months.

The centre says the vaccine has been reviewed and permitted by all relevant regulatory bodies in the UK including the UK Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.

PATIENTS are only eligible to enter the TroVax trial if they meet strict medical criteria and must not have suffered serious infections for 28 days prior to vaccination.

THOSE interested in finding out more should seek the advice of their doctor.

liammurphy