World Cancer Day: Minister meets first Welsh patient to receive investigational vaccine against colorectal cancer

To mark World Cancer Day on Tuesday 4 February, Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeremy Miles MS visited Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff to meet Lesley Jenkins, the first patient in Wales to receive an investigational vaccine designed to fight her own specific form of cancer, as part of a groundbreaking new research study supported by Health and Care Research Wales. 

Lesley, 65, was diagnosed with Stage 2 colorectal cancer in April 2024 after completing a free NHS bowel screening test. After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, she was approached to take part in the study at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.  

The study is being led by Velindre in partnership with Health and Care Research Wales and pharmaceutical company BioNTech. It aims to evaluate whether investigational vaccines can prevent an individual’s cancer from returning.  

The investigational vaccines use mRNA technology, which use samples from a patient’s tumour, removed during surgery, alongside sequencing to effectively vaccinate the patient against their own specific cancer. 

Lesley said: “Being diagnosed with cancer came as a shock. I hadn’t noticed any symptoms. In fact, I had been looking forward to an easier life after a very intense few years for my family.  

“Things moved very quickly: I had a colonoscopy and CT scan which confirmed the presence of cancer and then was swept up in a tide of preparations, investigations and surgery, followed by chemotherapy. In April I didn’t know I was ill, and by December I had finished chemotherapy.” 

Lesley heard about the trial during chemotherapy and was told she was eligible to take part. She added:

I wanted to do something practical to help the NHS and pay back the care and professionalism my family and I had been shown. 

“It is fascinating to be involved in something which has the potential to make a difference to cancer patients in the future. I would encourage anyone given the opportunity take part in future trials to ask lots of questions and consider getting involved." 

Professor Rob Jones, Co-Director of Division of Cancer and Genetics at Cardiff University, Associate Medical Director at Velindre Cancer Centre and lead investigator on the study, said: “This trial aims to recruit eligible patients who have already undergone surgery and chemotherapy, testing whether the investigational vaccine stimulates the immune system to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, thus improving the chance of a cure. It is very exciting that Lesley has become the first Welsh patient to receive this trial vaccine, and we hope to be able to recruit more eligible patients as the trial continues.” 

Dr Nicola Williams, National Director of Support and Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, said: “Our collaboration with BioNTech is just one of the ways in which we are helping establish Wales as a place for our industry partners to conduct high-quality clinical trials, and through our One Wales approach give patients across Wales increased choice to participate. We are proud to be supporting a range of pioneering studies, research infrastructure and specialist staff which will all have a part to play.” 

Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeremy Miles, said: “It was a privilege to meet Lesley today – the first person in Wales to receive this trial vaccine. I look forward to hearing how it progresses and to more people following her lead.

“I want Wales to lead the way in pioneering research that has the potential to improve cancer care and treatment for people in Wales and across the UK. Clinical trials play a key part in understanding more about cancer and how we can treat a wide range of conditions. I was pleased to be at Velindre on World Cancer Day.”

Read more about our collaboration with BioNTech and how it aims to boost Wales’ clinical trial infrastructure here.