Researchers from the University of Oxford and University College London are gearing up to launch the world’s first-ever clinical trial of a preventive vaccine specifically targeting lung cancer. The groundbreaking experimental vaccine, named LungVax, is set to begin testing in the summer of 2026, pending final regulatory approvals.LungVax is built on the same viral vector technology (ChAdOx2) that powered the successful Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. It works by delivering genetic instructions to the immune system, training specialized T-cells to identify and destroy abnormal lung cells that display neoantigens—unique protein markers that appear on precancerous or early cancerous cells. The goal is proactive: to eliminate these risky cells long before they can develop into full-blown tumors, shifting the focus from treating advanced disease to true prevention.
The upcoming Phase I trial, funded by up to £2.06 million ($about 2.7 million) from Cancer Research UK in partnership with the CRIS Cancer Foundation, will span four years. It will enroll people at elevated risk of lung cancer, including:
- Individuals previously treated for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who remain vulnerable to recurrence.
- Participants identified through NHS lung cancer screening programs (such as targeted lung health checks for high-risk groups, often heavy former or current smokers).
The primary objectives include determining the safest and most effective dosing regimen, assessing any potential side effects, and measuring how strongly the vaccine stimulates an immune response—particularly the activation of cancer-killing T-cells. Researchers will closely monitor participants’ immune profiles and overall safety throughout the multi-year follow-up period.Early laboratory studies have already demonstrated promising results: LungVax successfully primes the immune system to recognize and eliminate precancerous lung cells in preclinical models. This builds on the broader momentum in cancer vaccine research, where immune-based approaches are increasingly seen as a game-changer for high-mortality diseases like lung cancer—the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, responsible for about one in five cancer fatalities.
Professor Sarah Blagden (University of Oxford, co-founder of the project) and Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani (UCL Cancer Institute, trial lead) have emphasized the urgent need for this shift. With lung cancer survival rates remaining dismal—fewer than 10% of patients surviving 10 years or more—preventing the disease at its earliest, asymptomatic stages could dramatically improve outcomes and reduce the massive burden on healthcare systems.While this remains an early-stage (Phase I) effort focused on safety and immunogenicity rather than definitive efficacy, success here could pave the way for larger Phase II/III trials and, ultimately, a transformative tool in precision cancer prevention. If proven effective, LungVax could one day offer a simple vaccination to high-risk individuals, much like existing preventive vaccines for HPV-related cervical cancer or hepatitis B-linked liver cancer.This milestone highlights the rapid evolution of immuno-oncology, turning once-unthinkable ideas—training the body’s defenses to stop cancer before it starts—into clinical reality.Source/Credit: Cancer Research UK (November 2025 announcements), University of Oxford, University College London, and related coverage from Drug Discovery World, Clinical Trials Arena, and other scientific outlets.
