Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in collaboration with MedServe Cancer Centre and other local and international partners, has begun Nigeria’s first immunotherapy clinical trial for colorectal cancer, marking a significant step in the country’s cancer research and treatment landscape.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, who announced the development during a media briefing, described the initiative as a landmark achievement born out of years of deliberate investment in infrastructure, specialist training, and global collaboration.

He said that the launch represents the culmination of sustained efforts to position the hospital to conduct cutting-edge clinical research that meets international standards, adding that LUTH now has the expertise and systems required to carry out complex trials of this nature.

Adeyemo stated that the study is being conducted in partnership with the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, with international support from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, which is serving as sponsor and data coordinating centre.

He added that the African Research Group for Oncology and the Thompson Family Foundation in the United States (U.S.) are also supporting the project.

The Principal Investigator, Prof. Abdul Kareem Fatimah of LUTH’s Department of Molecular and Anatomic Pathology, while providing the scientific context for the trial, highlighted the growing burden of colorectal cancer in Nigeria, noting that the disease is increasingly affecting Nigerians, including younger patients.

Also speaking, Co-Principal Investigator and Project Director, Dr Eben Aje, addressed issues relating to patient safety and implementation, saying that while immunotherapy can cause side effects, they are generally manageable and often less severe than those associated with traditional chemotherapy.

He added that comprehensive safety protocols had been put in place and stressed that patients’ welfare remains the top priority.

Meanwhile, the study has received approval from the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria and the LUTH Health Research Ethics Committee.