Cancer Vaccine Model Suggests Optimism for Lynch Syndrome Patients

An experimental vaccine may someday prevent colorectal cancer in people with a genetic condition known as Lynch Syndrome, reported Weill Cornell Medicine scientists. 

These scientists developed a vaccine that destroyed the mutated cells made by Lynch DNA in mice, says a press release on April 1, 2019. 

This study reported that vaccination with as few as 4 tumor antigens generated antigen-specific responses, reduced intestinal tumors, and improved survival in a mouse model of Lynch syndrome. 

This pre-human study suggests that it may be possible to develop a cancer preventive vaccine for patients with Lynch syndrome, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting, March 29-April 3, 2019. 

Lynch Syndrome, often called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is an inherited disorder that increases the risk of many types of cancer, particularly cancers of the colon and rectum. 

In the United States, about 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year. Approximately 3 to 5 percent of these cancers are caused by Lynch syndrome. 

Steven M. Lipkin, MD, Ph.D., vice chair for research in the Weill Department of Medicine in New York, said in a press release, “People with Lynch syndrome have a 70 to 80 percent lifetime risk of colorectal cancer, as well as an increased risk for other types of cancer, including small intestine, stomach, endometrial, bladder, and ovarian cancers. 

"Currently, frequent screening to detect precancers and early-stage cancer is the main approach used to prevent cancer in people with Lynch syndrome.” 

The genetic mutations that cause Lynch syndrome prevent the proper repair of damaged DNA, leading to the accumulation of mutations in certain parts of the genome called coding microsatellites, explained Dr. Lipkin.  

According to Dr. Lipkin, the main limitation of the study is that it is a preclinical study, which means that there is still a lot of work to be done before we can know if this strategy will prevent cancer in patients with Lynch syndrome. 

This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Lipkin declares no personal conflicts of interest. Two co-investigators on his NCI grant are employees of the immunotherapy company Nouscom.