Nigeria has launched its first-ever clinical trial of immunotherapy for colorectal cancer, marking a significant milestone in the country’s cancer care landscape.
The Phase II study, unveiled at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), will evaluate tislelizumab, a PD-1 blocking drug designed to help the immune system detect and attack cancer cells. The trial specifically targets patients with mismatch-repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer — a genetic subtype shown to respond better to immunotherapy than conventional chemotherapy.
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The initiative is a collaboration involving LUTH, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Medserve, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in the United States, which is serving as study sponsor and data coordinating centre.
Researchers say colorectal cancer is an emerging public health concern in Nigeria, with survival rates remaining low, particularly in advanced cases.
Studies indicate that nearly 30 percent of Nigerian patients may carry the dMMR/MSI-H genetic profile, making this trial particularly relevant.
The study received approvals from the National Health Research Ethics Committee and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Enrollment is ongoing at specialist centres in Ile-Ife and Lagos.
Experts say the trial signals Nigeria’s growing participation in global cancer research and could redefine treatment options for patients with advanced colorectal cancer in the country
