Researchers unveil clinical trial of vaccine.(Brief Article)

2002 JUL 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A pair of University of Kentucky researchers are hoping to fight lung cancer with a new vaccine designed to reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease.

The two announced a clinical trial June 13, 2002, in which they are enrolling as many as 30 patients over a 2-year period diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer who already have undergone surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Although the vaccine will not prevent lung cancer in those who have never had it, the two doctors hope it can prevent the disease from returning and help maintain remission periods after treatment.

"Even after potentially curative surgery, individuals have a 15-50% chance of recurrence depending on the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis," said Dr. Edward Hirschowitz, an assistant professor of medicine at the school.

"Because additional medical therapies are not generally recommended until recurrences are seen, we are using the window between medical and surgical therapy and recurrence to enhance the body's immune response to residual cancer."

More than 87% of lung cancers are smoking-related. Not coincidentally, Kentucky leads the nation in both percentage of smokers and incidence of lung cancer.

"It's disheartening to realize that the Commonwealth of Kentucky leads the nation in the incidence of lung cancer," said Dr. Alfred Cohen, director of the university's Markey Cancer Center. "There's about 50% more lung cancer in Kentucky than the national average. That's catastrophic."