In a promising breakthrough, researchers in the UK have been granted £1.7 million (€1.98 million) to develop a groundbreaking lung cancer vaccine. The innovative vaccine, known as "LungVax," aims to become the world's first vaccine against lung cancer for individuals at high risk of developing the disease. It will utilize technology similar to the successful Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The funding for this groundbreaking project will be provided by Cancer Research UK and the CRIS Cancer Foundation. Lung cancer, responsible for 4.5% of all deaths in the EU and one-fifth of cancer-related deaths in 2020, is the leading cause of cancer death in the EU. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) agency, cancer cases in Europe are expected to increase by over 20% by 2045.

The objective of the LungVax project is to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, a significant challenge in the field of cancer research. Professor Tim Elliott, the research lead for LungVax, expressed the importance of this endeavor, stating, "Cancer is a disease of our own bodies, making it difficult for the immune system to distinguish between normal cells and cancerous ones."

If successful, the LungVax vaccine could potentially save the lives of tens of thousands of people each year in the UK alone, as trials have shown that it has the potential to enhance patient survival for certain lung cancers by nearly fifty percent.

A team composed of researchers from the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute, and University College London will receive funding over the next two years to conduct crucial laboratory work and manufacture 3,000 doses of the LungVax vaccine. Following successful lab tests that demonstrate an immune response, the vaccine will proceed to clinical trials.

Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, hailed this project as a significant step forward in paving the way for a future where cancer is more preventable. She added, "We are currently in a golden age of research, and the development of the LungVax vaccine is one of many initiatives that we hope will transform lung cancer survival."

It is important to note that the most significant risk factor for developing lung cancer is cigarette smoking, which accounts for over 70% of all cases, according to the UK's National Health Service (NHS). The introduction of a lung cancer vaccine has the potential to bring about a paradigm shift in preventing and reducing the devastating impact of this disease.

As the fight against cancer continues, the development of the LungVax vaccine represents a beacon of hope in the field of oncology. With further advancements and successful clinical trials, this new vaccine could revolutionize lung cancer treatment and save countless lives.