
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”
This trial looked at a treatment called ACVA (anti CEA vaccine) for people who have cancer that makes a protein called CEA. This trial was supported by Cancer Research UK.
ACVA is a type of biological therapy known as a DNA vaccine. ACVA is made from the tetanus vaccine, but researchers have added some new genetic material (DNA) to modify it. Because the genetic material has been changed, it can also be classed as a type of gene therapy.
CEA stands for carcinoembryonic antigen. It is a marker (protein) made by some types of cancer. The research team hoped that ACVA would help the immune system to recognise cancer cells that make CEA, and kill them.
The aims of the trial were to find out
The research team found that ACVA was safe to use and that it did cause an in this group of patients.
This trial recruited 27 adults into 1 of 2 groups. There were
The people taking part had a number of different cancers that made CEA. Most people who took part had either bowel cancer or lung cancer. The people who had no signs of cancer had been treated successfully, but had an increased risk of their cancer coming back.
Everyone taking part had ACVA injections into a muscle. They had between 3 and 6 injections over a number of weeks.
The research team did a number of different tests to see if ACVA affected the immune system. They found that in some people there was an increase in certain immune cells after treatment. This showed that ACVA did activate the immune system.
First they looked at the level of T cells produced by the immune system. They measured these cells in 2 different ways and found that in total they were raised in
They also looked at the level of an antibody produced by the immune system. They measured this in 3 different ways and found that in total it was raised in
The research team were able to look at how well the treatment worked for 13 out of the 15 people with advanced cancer. They found that the cancer stayed the same in 3 people, but continued to grow in 10 people. No one’s cancer got smaller.
The people taking part did have some side effects, but very few people had any serious side effects. The most common side effects were diarrhoea, tummy (abdominal) pain, tiredness (fatigue), cough and shortness of breath.
The research team concluded that ACVA was safe to use, and that it did stimulate the immune system of people with cancers that make CEA.
We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. As far as we are aware, the information they sent us has not been reviewed independently () or published in a medical journal yet. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Prof Christian Ottensmeier
Cancer Research UK (Centre for Drug Development)
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
This is Cancer Research UK trial number CRUKD/06/053.
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”