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Scientists at the University of Oxford are working on a promising new vaccine, OvarianVax, aimed at preventing ovarian cancer. Funded by Cancer Research UK with up to £600,000 over the next three years, the team hopes to train the immune system to recognize and attack early signs of ovarian cancer. Led by Prof Ahmed Ahmed, the researchers are optimistic but acknowledge there is still a long way to go.
The vaccine will be designed to target specific proteins found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, known as tumour-associated antigens. After lab development, it will be tested on patients to determine if it can shrink or eliminate early-stage tumours. In the future, the vaccine could be offered to women with genetic mutations that increase their risk, and possibly even the wider population to prevent ovarian cancer altogether.
Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect early, as symptoms like bloating and loss of appetite can be vague, and there is currently no screening test. The hope is that OvarianVax will eventually reduce the need for preventative surgeries, such as ovary removal in high-risk women. However, experts caution that it will take many years before the vaccine could be ready for widespread use.
