A vaccine shows efficacy in preventing colon cancer in a clinical trial

A clinical trial with the preventive vaccine NOUS-209 has been shown to effectively stimulate the immune response in people with Lynch syndrome, a hereditary disease that significantly increases the risk of developing various types of tumors, especially of the colon and endometrium, showing its potential to intercept cancer before it develops. The trial results show that the precancerous lesions present in the patients studied had not progressed one year after receiving the treatment. Nor did new lesions appear after the therapy. According to Nouscom, the company that developed NOUS-209, this is an immunotherapy against cancer designed to induce the response of T cells against neoantigens present in tumors and precancerous lesions with microsatellite instability.

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The results have been published in the journal 'Nature Medicine'. In the phase 1b/2 clinical trial, NOUS-209 was administered to 45 people carrying Lynch syndrome, a condition that carries up to an 80% risk of developing colon cancer, as well as an elevated risk of endometrial, urothelial, ovarian, and other types of tumors. Thus, neoantigen-specific immune responses were observed after vaccination in 100% of evaluable participants, with induction of potent T cell immunity. Furthermore, the immune response was durable and detectable at one year in 85% of the participants. "These findings highlight the great potential of NOUS-209 as a cancer interception strategy for people with Lynch syndrome," highlighted the Spanish researcher Eduardo Vilar-Sánchez, who is a professor of Clinical Cancer Prevention at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas and has led the study. The induced T lymphocytes demonstrated direct destruction capacity of tumor cells 'ex vivo' and exhibited the desired effector memory phenotype, which supports long-term immune surveillance. "The data show that NOUS-209-induced T cells persist, attack, and effectively destroy tumor cells with microsatellite instability and promote long-term immune protection. The absence of advanced adenomas after treatment is particularly encouraging," added Vilar-Sánchez.

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NOUS-209 was well tolerated, without serious adverse effects related to treatment. In addition, a lower frequency of precancerous lesions with microsatellite instability was observed and no new advanced adenomas were detected one year after treatment, providing clinical evidence of cancer interception. "These data reinforce our confidence in the potential of NOUS-209 to stop cancer before it develops in high-risk people with Lynch syndrome," said Elisa Scarselli, Nouscom's chief scientific officer. The company will now continue with the investigations to further develop the future vaccine: "We are committed to converting NOUS-209 into a clinical trial that allows registration to help transform lives and redefine the role of immunotherapy in oncology," concluded Marina Udier, CEO of Nouscom.