Identify the ideal vaccine targets
People with Lynch syndrome are much more likely to get cancer than those without it. This is because they are born with an alteration in one of a series of genes that makes it difficult for their bodies to repair DNA correctly. As a result, their cells accumulate abnormal changes in DNA (mutations) over time, which can cause cancer.
These mutations are not random; they appear in patterns, and some are shared across many people with Lynch Syndrome. They often lead to abnormal proteins appearing on the cell surface and can be recognised by the immune system. Vaccination aims to train the immune system to respond to these abnormal proteins, helping to destroy the cells with mutations before they can turn into cancer cells.
We aim to identify the common DNA changes which the immune system responds to most strongly so we can use them as targets for the vaccine.
Unlike other studies in this area, we are focussing on DNA changes that appear in very early (precancerous) tumours of the bowel and womb. Our goal is to develop a vaccine that can prevent as many cancers caused by Lynch syndrome as possible, not just one type.
By partnering with the nationwide Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project, we have already identified many potential targets through whole genome sequencing. We have also shown that some of these targets are also present in precancers.
To move forward, we need to build our confidence in these targets by looking at more tissue samples donated by people with Lynch Syndrome. We want to ensure that they are visible to the immune system, making them good candidates for a vaccine.
Our ultimate aim is to prevent the development of all cancers in people with Lynch syndrome, rather than just focusing on improving outcomes for the most common cancers.