Nigeria launches 1st immunotherapy trial for colorectal cancer

2026-03-03 - 00:37

... LUTH, OAU partner global cancer leaders to offer new hope to patients By Chioma Obinna Nigeria on Monday recorded a historic breakthrough in cancer care with the launch of the country’s first-ever immunotherapy clinical trial for colorectal cancer designed move to transform treatment outcomes for patients with advanced disease. The landmark Phase II study was formally unveiled at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), bringing together a coalition of Nigerian and international institutions in what stakeholders described as a major step toward equitable, cutting-edge oncology care in sub-Saharan Africa. The trial titled “PD-1 Blockade in Mismatch-Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer in Nigeria” will test tislelizumab, an immunotherapy drug designed to block the PD-1 protein that allows cancer cells to evade the immune system, thereby enabling the body to recognize and attack the tumour. The initiative is a collaboration between Medserve, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, and LUTH, working alongside the globally renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in the United States. Colorectal cancer is an emerging health concern in Nigeria, where fewer than half of patients survive beyond one year after diagnosis. Conventional chemotherapy has shown limited success in many advanced cases. However, new research indicates that nearly 30 percent of Nigerian colorectal cancer patients have a specific genetic profile known as mismatch-repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H). While this mutation makes tumours resistant to chemotherapy, it makes them particularly responsive to immunotherapy. Speaking, a Professor of Surgery at OAU and National Director of the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO), Professor Olusegun Isaac Alatise described the trial as a turning point. “The approval of this trial marks an important milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer in Nigeria. Our research could provide vital insights into novel treatment strategies, particularly for patients with limited therapeutic options due to genetic mutations.” He explained that before commencement, the trial received full ethical and regulatory approvals from the National Health Research Ethics Committee, NHREC, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, ensuring compliance with national and international standards. Also, enrollment has opened at two specialised centres: the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife and the Medserve LUTH Cancer Centre in Lagos. Also speaking, Professor of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology at LUTH, Prof. Fatimah Abdulkareem said the collaboration signals Nigeria’s readiness to embrace advanced cancer therapies. “We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking trial that brings cutting-edge immunotherapy closer to Nigerian patients with colorectal cancer,” she said. “This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to advancing cancer care and ensuring that our patients benefit from the very best of global research.” The MSKCC is serving as study sponsor and data coordinating centre under its Global Cancer Research and Training programme. The drug is supplied by BeOne Medicines, while BioVentures for Global Health supported regulatory navigation. The Thompson Family Foundation is providing partial funding. On his part, the Director of Global Cancer Research and Training at MSKCC, Dr. T. Peter Kingham said the trial builds on earlier groundbreaking work in the United States. “This trial builds on a groundbreaking study conducted at MSK that significantly transformed treatment options for some patients with colorectal cancer. “We hope that this pioneering trial will lead to a similar shift in treatment possibilities for Nigerian colorectal cancer patients, offering them a greater chance for cure.” The Chief Executive Officer of Medserve, Dr. Tolulope Adewole, emphasised the long-term vision. “Aligning with organizations which share the same objectives, we are building a sustainable model of patient-centric care. “Quality oncology care should not be a privilege; it must be the minimum standard irrespective of location.” The experts say the launch represents more than a clinical trial as it signals Nigeria’s growing participation in high-level global cancer research. For patients with dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer, the study offers renewed hope where conventional treatment has often failed. They maintained that the success of the trial could redefine colorectal cancer management in Nigeria and set a precedent for future immunotherapy studies across Africa.