LungVax

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A Modular Cohort-Based Precision-Prevention Trial of neoantigen-targeting vaccines to prevent cancer in individuals at risk of recurrent or new non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other cancers.

• IRAS ID

  1013101

• Contact name

  Mariam Jamal-Hanjani

• Contact email

  m.jamal-hanjani@ucl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Oxford

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN70717445

• Research summary

  Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death that society faces. It kills almost 35,000 people every year in the UK.
  Although it is one of the most lethal cancers, it is also one of the most preventable because it takes a long time for lung cancer to develop and there are clear risk factors. We now know that the earliest changes in persistent smokers are subtle changes to the cells lining their lungs and airways. The first are mutations to genes contained within these cells. Cells which contain mutated genes send out distress signals like flags displayed by a ship in danger. These short protein flags are called neoantigens. The immune system recognises most cells bearing these neoantigen “flags” and kills them. However, the immune system sometimes does not recognise or kill these ‘flag-waving’ cells. As a result, cells can survive, develop more mutations, and grow to become lung cancer over years or even decades. Eventually, these tumours cause symptoms like a cough or shortness of breath and can be seen on an X-ray or CT scan. The vaccine (ChAdOx2 LungVax) “teaches” the immune system to recognise and kill every cell that carries these neoantigens, preventing them from developing into lung cancer. The trial will assess the safety and effectiveness of ChAdOx2 LungVax in two distinct sets of high cancer risk individuals. The first set are individuals who have recently had curative surgery for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The second set are individuals who are participating in the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme - who are at elevated risk of NSCLC and other cancers, but have not had a cancer diagnosis. Participants will be vaccinated with ChAdOx2 LungVax four times over an 18-month period.

• REC name

  Wales REC 1

• REC reference

  26/WA/0090

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 May 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion