An international clinical trial, named Neo-POLEM, exploring an innovative and potentially game-changing new treatment vaccine, is now open for Australians with colorectal cancer.
The study, being led locally by Professor Tim Price, is exploring the use of PD1-Vaxx, a treatment option which has shown a preliminary promising response in lung cancer. The hope is that it will bring similar benefits to people with colorectal cancer, leading to improved treatment, quality of life and survival outcomes.
“To lead Neo-POLEM in Australia is exciting. The results have the potential to make changes to current international treatment guidelines”, says Professor Price.
Neo-POLEM is led globally by Dr Tony Dhillon (Royal Surrey, UK) and the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, and we are pleased to collaborate with them and immuno-oncology company Imugene Limited to bring this study to Australian patients.
An urgent need
In Australia colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is the fourth most diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths.
In early stages, it’s best treated with surgery and chemotherapy. However, around 50% of people will experience a recurrence – and if this happens, it’s often incurable. New and more effective treatments are urgently needed to improve outcomes for people facing this disease.
How does the vaccine work?
As well as building on the positive preliminary results seen in lung cancer, Neo-POLEM will explore evidence that immunotherapy (a type of treatment that stimulates the immune system to attack and shrink cancer cells) could work exceptionally well for a subtype of colorectal cancer called defective mismatch repair (dMMR).This is where abnormal cells cannot be repaired, leading to tumour growth. Around one in seven diagnoses of colorectal cancer are this subtype.
PD1-Vaxx is a type of immunotherapy – and the prediction is that dMMR colorectal cancers could be particularly sensitive to it. Significantly, those who respond positively could be spared from chemotherapy after surgery to remove any residual tumour.
“We know that antibodies can shrink colorectal cancer before it’s surgically removed. The vaccine allows a simpler method of delivery and may potentially mitigate the need for people to undergo chemotherapy after surgery,’ says Professor Price.
More about Neo-POLEM
Neo-POLEM is set to be conducted at four hospitals, utilising teletrial capability and covering metropolitan and regional centres, offering equitable access for people with colorectal cancer across Australia.
It is a single-arm study – meaning all participants receive the treatment and there is no placebo group – the treatment itself has minimal side effects. And with three vaccines over six weeks, the timeframe is similar to the usual surgery wait time, avoiding possible treatment delays for those needing surgery.
We’re proud to bring this potentially ground-breaking trial to Australians facing colorectal cancer – addressing a critical need and making a promising treatment option available around three-to-five years sooner than it otherwise would be.
Vital gastrointestinal (GI) cancer research is made possible thanks to help from generous supporters like you. Find out more about donating to the GI Cancer Institute.
Please speak to your consulting specialist if you think this trial may be suitable for you.