The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects most people in the UK, although it
rarely causes medical problems. But it is also found in around 1200
people a year in the UK who have cancer, including Hodgkin's lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma - located at the back of the nose.
Inside these cancers, EBV encourages cells to make molecules called
EBNA1 and LMP2. The vaccine trains the immune system to recognise
these molecules and kill the cancer cells.
The vaccine has been developed by Cancer Research UK, with technology
developed by the University of Birmingham. The trial will test the
effect of the vaccine on the immune system in 18 patients with
nasopharyngeal carcinoma recruited at hospitals across the UK, including
a number of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, with additional
patients taking part in a related trial in Hong Kong.
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