In a milestone moment for global cancer research, scientists in the UK have started the world’s first human trial of a vaccine designed to prevent lung cancer.
The experimental vaccine—called LungVax—represents a bold step toward a future where the immune system is trained to stop cancer before it forms.
Lung cancer is the world’s leading cause of cancer deaths. Survival rates remain low because the disease is usually detected late. A safe and effective preventive vaccine could shift the entire landscape of oncology.
Experts emphasise that stopping smoking is still the most effective way to reduce lung cancer risk—but a vaccine could add a powerful new layer of protection.
What Is LungVax?
LungVax is a new type of cancer vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, University College London (UCL), and the Francis Crick Institute. It uses the same viral vector technology as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccine works by teaching the immune system to recognise abnormal “neoantigen” proteins that appear on early, mutated lung cells. Once primed, the immune system can target and eliminate these cells before they evolve into cancer.
Why This Trial Matters
- Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
- Early detection is rare, making prevention the strongest opportunity for impact.
- This trial is the first in the world aimed at preventing lung cancer, not just treating it.
The idea is simple but revolutionary: stop cancer at the earliest molecular stages, long before symptoms appear.
Who Is Taking Part?
The Phase 1 trial will focus on people at high risk of developing lung cancer, including:
- Individuals previously treated for early-stage lung cancer (a group prone to recurrence).
- Participants in the NHS lung screening programme.
Scientists will monitor each volunteer for safety, immune response, and long-term outcomes.
The Science Behind The Breakthrough
LungVax is built on more than a decade of genomic research from major UK studies such as TRACERx, which mapped how lung cancers evolve at their earliest stages.
The findings revealed a crucial insight: most lung cancers share common molecular signatures. This means a single vaccine might be able to target a wide range of future tumours—potentially covering up to 80–90% of cases.
What Happens Next?
This is an early-stage trial. That means:
- The vaccine is not yet proven to prevent cancer.
- Researchers are testing safety first, not effectiveness.
- Larger trials will follow only if this first phase is successful.
Experts emphasise that stopping smoking is still the most effective way to reduce lung cancer risk—but a vaccine could add a powerful new layer of protection.
A New Chapter In Preventive Oncology
If LungVax works as hoped, it could mark one of the biggest shifts in cancer prevention in decades.
Instead of waiting for cancer to appear, healthcare could move toward identifying high-risk individuals and vaccinating them before the disease takes hold.
It’s early. It’s experimental. But it’s also one of the most promising developments in cancer science today.
