A new treatment designed to boost the immune system in people suffering from lung cancer has shown ‘promising’ results during clinical trials.
Researchers found that the MAGE-A3 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapeutic (ASCI) reduced the risk of post-surgery relapse on a comparable level with chemotherapy but without the same side-effects.
MAGE-A3 is an antigen that is produced by around half of non-small-cell lung cancer cells. Around 38,000 lung cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the UK, with around 90 per cent of cases thought to be the result of smoking.
"The aim is to help the body immune system to recognise the MAGE-A3 antigen and therefore eliminate the cancer cells that express MAGE-A3," said Professor Johan Vansteenkiste from Belgium’s University Hospital Gasthuisberg, presenting the findings at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference.
Some 182 patients participated in the study, some of whom were injected with the antigen and some with a placebo. Those given the MAGE-A3 were in remission for longer on average than those who weren’t, and were less likely to die.
"Surgical resection is the standard treatment for patients with early stage lung cancer, but after complete resection about 50 per cent will relapse and die from their cancer," said Professor Vansteenkiste. He added that while chemotherapy can help cancer prevention following surgery, some patients have negative reactions to the treatment.
The treatment is now in Phase III trials.
