RecruitingPhase IInterventional

A clinical trial testing vaccines designed to prevent lung cancer in people at risk of recurrent or new lung cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of death in the UK, but it often takes a long time to develop. This study is testing a new vaccine, called ChAdOx2 LungVax, which aims to teach the body's immune system to recognise and destroy cells that could turn into lung cancer. These pre-cancerous cells often have 'distress signals' that the vaccine helps the immune system spot. The trial involves people who have recently had early-stage lung cancer removed or those identified as high-risk through the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme. Participants will receive four vaccine doses over 18 months. The main goal is to check the vaccine's safety and how well it works to prevent new or returning lung cancer.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Phase I

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jun 2026

Estimated completion

31 Mar 2027

Surgically resected stage 1A/1B non small cell lung cancer

What is this study about?

Lung cancer is a very serious illness and unfortunately, it's the most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Researchers know that lung cancer usually develops over a long time, often many years or even decades. During this time, changes happen in the cells lining the lungs, especially in people who smoke. These changes start with small faults in the cells' genetic material, like tiny alarm bells ringing. These 'alarm signals' are called neoantigens, and they are like flags telling the immune system something is wrong.

Normally, our amazing immune system spots these 'flag-waving' cells and gets rid of them. However, sometimes the immune system misses them, or doesn't react strongly enough. When this happens, these faulty cells can survive, gather more problems, and eventually grow into full-blown lung cancer. At this stage, people might notice symptoms like a cough or breathlessness, and the cancer can be seen on scans. The new vaccine being tested, called ChAdOx2 LungVax, aims to give the immune system a boost. It's designed to 'teach' the immune system to reliably spot and destroy these early faulty cells that display the 'flags,' before they can develop into cancer.

This trial is an early-stage study (Phase I), which means the main focus is on checking the vaccine's safety. However, researchers will also be looking to see if it shows signs of being effective in preventing new or returning lung cancer. They are hoping this vaccine could offer a new way to prevent this very serious disease, especially for those known to be at a higher risk.

Key takeaways

Tests a new vaccine to prevent lung cancer.
Aims to teach the immune system to fight early cancer cells.
For people who have had early lung cancer surgery or are at high risk.
Involves four vaccine doses over 18 months.
Focuses on checking the vaccine's safety and effectiveness.
Funded by Cancer Research UK and CRIS Cancer Foundation.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for two main groups of people. The first group includes individuals aged 18 or over who have had surgery to remove their early-stage non-small cell lung cancer within the last three months. It's important that their surgery successfully removed all visible cancer.

The second group includes people aged between 55 and 74 years old who are currently taking part in the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme. These individuals are considered to be at a higher risk of lung cancer but haven't been diagnosed with it. It's also important that their recent scans show no active cancer.

For both groups, you'll need to be generally well enough to take part, with healthy blood test results. If you could become pregnant, you'll need to use effective contraception throughout the study and have negative pregnancy tests on certain key dates. You must also be willing and able to attend all scheduled study visits and tests.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you aged 18 or above (or 55-74 for NHS screening group)?
Have you recently had early-stage lung cancer surgery (within 3 months)?
Are you currently part of the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme without a cancer diagnosis?
Are you generally well and able to attend study visits?
If you can get pregnant, are you willing to use contraception during the study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you will receive the ChAdOx2 LungVax vaccine four times over an 18-month period. This means you will have regular visits to the hospital study site for your vaccinations and health checks. These visits will involve blood tests to monitor your health and how your body is reacting to the vaccine. The researchers will be closely watching for any side effects. The total duration of your active participation in the study will be 18 months, during which you will have these four vaccinations and the necessary follow-up appointments.

Potential risks and benefits

Because this is a new vaccine, the potential benefits are not fully known yet, as it's an early-stage trial primarily focused on safety. However, it offers the chance to contribute to research that could prevent lung cancer in the future. The main risk is that the ChAdOx2 LungVax vaccine has not been given to people before, so there may be unknown side effects. Researchers have taken many steps to minimise risks, including careful monitoring of participants, phased enrolment, and ensuring the vaccine itself is designed to be safe and unable to replicate in your body. There's also a small risk of discomfort, bruising, or bleeding from the blood samples taken. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and your medical care will not be affected.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
London, England

Common questions

What is non-small cell lung cancer?

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common type of lung cancer. This study is focusing on preventing it from coming back or developing for the first time.

What is the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme?

It's a programme that offers lung health checks and scans to people at higher risk of lung cancer in the UK, aiming to find cancers early when they are easier to treat.

What are neoantigens?

These are like 'distress signals' or 'flags' on the surface of early faulty cells. The vaccine aims to teach your immune system to recognise and destroy cells displaying these flags.

How many vaccine doses will I receive?

If you participate, you will receive four doses of the ChAdOx2 LungVax vaccine over an 18-month period.

Who is funding this research?

This important study is being funded by Cancer Research UK and CRIS Cancer Foundation.

How to find out more

- Oncology Clinical Trials Office

octo-lungvax@oncology.ox.ac.uk +44 1865 617420 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.