Vaccine to stop return of skin cancer

Jab tailored to each patient

- MARTIN BAGOT

A VACCINE that could prevent skin cancer recurring is being tested on British patients.

Scientists say the world's first personalised mRNA cancer jab for melanoma also has the potential to stop lung, bladder and kidney cancer too - and even offers hope of a cure.

The jab is custom-built for each patient in a few weeks.

It tells the immune system how to identify and kill cancer cells.

A phase-two trial of the jab, involving pharmaceutical firms Moderna and MSD, found that it dramatically improved survival in melanoma patients and could stop cancer returning. Now a final phasethree trial has been launched.

Dr Heather Shaw, national co-ordinating investigator of the trial led by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the jab had the potential to cure melanoma.