Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have put a potential breast cancer vaccine into pre-clinical trials.
Scientists at the University’s John van Geest centre, Clifton, said in August they’d identified a crucial molecule found on some cancer cells which could help in their quest to develop a vaccine against a particular type of the disease.
They have since been fine-tuning the treatment and are now in the pre-clinical trial stage, where lab testing is done to measure effectiveness.
Clinical trials could follow within two years.
Around 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year.
Professor Bob Rees, director of the centre said: “The protein we’ve discovered is present on a unique population of breast cancer cells.
“We are now undergoing pre-clinical trials, which is the phase before you actually take it in to the clinic.
“They are designed to hone the vaccine to perfection so we’re confident that when we do take it in to the clinic it will have the best possible chance of working.”
Experts at the van Geest centre are currently asking the public and businesses to join an appeal to pay for more revolutionary research.
Called 1in2 Day – after the ratio of people who will get cancer – it is being held on Friday, February 26.
Information on how to get involved in the day can be found in our guide.