A clinical trial of a new cancer vaccine has opened at 5 sites in the UK.

This study investigates the effectiveness and safety of a combination of V940 injection (a cancer vaccine) plus a pembrolizumab infusion (an immunotherapy) compared to pembrolizumab plus placebo as an adjuvant treatment for patients who have had surgery to remove their cancer. An adjuvant treatment is a medication that is given after surgery to kill cancer cells that remain after surgery.

The study is for people who have a type of kidney cancer called clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or papillary RCC, which is at moderate or high risk of returning. It is also for people whose cancer has started to spread into surrounding tissue or to other parts of the body, but do not have any symptoms of this.

This study aims to find out:

1. Whether V940 plus pembrolizumab is better than placebo plus pembrolizumab at improving disease-free survival
2. Information about the side effects of these treatment in kidney cancer patients.

The study is open in Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and London.

For more information and site contact details, please visit our clinical trials database on our website:

On 6 January 2025, NHS England launched their plan to reform elective care in England. The new NHS England’s Elective Care Reform Plan aims to deliver three key changes:

1. More convenient access to care.
2. Improved patient experience.
3. Improved waiting times.

Also within the plan is cancer pathway improvement work, with support from Cancer Alliances.

We hope these reforms will ultimately help to improve cancer patient experiences and outcomes.

Read more on our website here:

Just after Christmas, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for an injectable form of nivolumab for the treatment of most previously approved solid tumours, including advanced kidney cancer. The injectable form of nivolumab can be given alone, as maintenance therapy following completion of nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination treatment, or in combination with chemotherapy or cabozantinib.

This new option for giving nivolumab as a single injection administered in less than five minutes (compared to a 30-minute intravenous infusion of nivolumab), could transform the treatment experience for both patients and doctors.

This new form of nivolumab is not yet approved for use in the UK by the regulators. We will keep you informed of the approval process in the UK.

Read more on our website here:

We know that many people worry about cancer but sometimes put off getting checked because they hope the symptoms will go away or think they will get bad news. But finding cancer early makes it more treatable and can save lives.

It’s important that if you are worried about a symptom that could be cancer, to contact your GP practice. To rule out cancer, your GP may refer you for tests. Whatever the result, your NHS is here for you.

Don’t carry the worry of cancer with you, if something in your body doesn’t feel right, contact your GP practice. Until you find out, you can’t rule it out. For more information on cancer signs and symptoms go to