Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Only lung cancer takes more lives. Additionally, most people who have regular colonoscopies can largely prevent this disease. This test allows doctors to remove precancerous growths known as polyps before they become malignant or reach an advanced stage.
But colon cancer is much more difficult to prevent for people with the genetic disorder known as Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome affects 1 in 279 Americans. Lynch syndrome is caused by mutations in one of four related genes and significantly increases the risk of colon cancer.
“The lifetime risk of colon cancer in the general population is about 4% to 5%,” said Ajay Bansal, MD, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Kansas Medical Center and medical director of the University of Kansas Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Clinic. . cancer center. In an August episode of the University of Kansas Health System’s Morning Medical Update, Dr. Bansal continued: “In my high-risk clinic, the risk for patients with other genetic mutations is about 10% to 15%. In Lynch syndrome, it increases to 30% to 80%.”
Bansal is leading a national clinical trial testing a combination vaccine to prevent colon cancer in people with Lynch syndrome. In this Phase 2 trial, study participants at 16 trial sites across the country will receive a series of three vaccines. Each vaccine is designed to trigger an immune response that targets different proteins involved in colon cancer formation. Researchers hope that immune cells will find and destroy cells harboring these rogue proteins before polyps or cancer develop.
“Testing these three vaccines in combination with immune boosters to generate high-quality immune cells in the body is like creating a 24/7 bodyguard against cancer,” Bansal said. said. “We want to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, but our secondary focus is on the risk of ovarian, uterine, stomach and other cancers. Because some of these same proteins are also involved in the development of cancer in other organs.”
The risk of developing a second cancer in a Lynch patient varies because it depends on the person’s specific genetic mutation. Overall, the risk of developing a second cancer is 20% to 60%, Bansal said.
Lori Chavez, who also appeared on Morning Medical Update, had a family history of colon cancer. Nearly five years ago, after her sister tested positive for Lynch syndrome, Chavez underwent testing and discovered she too had the genetic disorder. Less than a year later, Chavez was diagnosed with colon cancer. She had her colon removed and also had a hysterectomy. Her oldest child has been tested negative for Lynch syndrome, and her other two children are too young to be tested. Mr. Chavez is participating in the trial. “I’m doing this because by the time they get tested, I hope that if they test positive, a vaccine will be developed and they’ll recover.” she said.
For more information about this clinical trial, please visit the KU Cancer Center website.
