Nigeria has commenced its first immunotherapy clinical trial targeting colorectal cancer, marking a significant development in cancer treatment within the country. The Phase II study will provide free treatment to eligible patients and is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy in managing specific forms of the disease.
The clinical trial, titled “PD-1 Blockade in Mismatch-Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer in Nigeria,” is being conducted through a collaboration involving Medserve, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the United States.
The study will focus on patients diagnosed with mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer, a subtype identified as more prevalent in Nigeria compared to other regions. Medical experts estimate that over 30 per cent of colorectal cancer cases locally fall within this category.
Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon or rectum, remains the third most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, according to data from the World Health Organisation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Co-Principal Investigator, Prof. Fatimah Abdulkareem, said the initiative was introduced to address high mortality rates associated with colorectal cancer in Nigeria. She noted that more than half of patients die within one year of diagnosis, largely due to limited treatment options and late presentation.
She explained that conventional chemotherapy has shown limited effectiveness for patients with the dMMR subtype, prompting the need for alternative therapies. Immunotherapy, she said, enhances the body’s immune response by blocking the PD-1 protein pathway used by cancer cells to evade immune detection.
The drug being evaluated in the trial, tislelizumab, is administered intravenously at a dosage of 200 milligrams every four weeks. The treatment duration for one cohort will span approximately two years, followed by a two-year monitoring period. A second cohort will undergo a seven-week treatment cycle with similar follow-up arrangements.
Eligible participants include treatment-naive patients aged 18 and above, with confirmed dMMR colorectal cancer and good performance status. Women of childbearing age must present a negative pregnancy test within 72 hours before commencing treatment.
Prior to commencement, the study received approval from the National Health Research Ethics Committee and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, confirming compliance with regulatory and ethical standards.
Patient enrollment will take place at two designated centres: the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex in Ile-Ife and the Medserve-LUTH Cancer Centre in Lagos.
Dr. Eben Aje, a consultant clinical and radiation oncologist involved in the study, described the project as an open-ended pilot designed to generate preliminary data on the use of immunotherapy among Nigerian patients with active colorectal cancer.
The Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, stated that the institution has the infrastructure and expertise to support clinical trials. He noted that this marks the eighth clinical trial at the Medserve-LUTH Cancer Centre and the first focused on immunotherapy.
He further highlighted the persistent challenge of late diagnosis in Nigeria, stating that early presentation significantly improves treatment outcomes. He urged increased public awareness to encourage timely screening and medical consultation.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Medserve-LUTH Cancer Centre, Dr. Tolulope Adewole, said the facility is committed to expanding access to equitable and patient-focused oncology care through strategic partnerships.
The trial is expected to contribute valuable data on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in Nigeria and potentially expand treatment options for colorectal cancer patients across the country.
