Scientists are developing a vaccine to treat various types of cancer, including breast, lung and pancreatic tumors. Human trials will begin soon. Animal studies have produced promising results. The prestigious journal “Clinical & Translational Immunology”, presenting the latest achievements in the field of biomedical research, informed about the progress in the work on the cancer vaccine.

Cancer vaccine – what types of cancer can it treat?

– We hope that this vaccine will be used to treat blood cancers such as myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, childhood leukemias, as well as solid cancerous tumors including breast, lung, kidney, ovary, pancreas, and glioblastoma multiforme – says Prof. Kristen Radford from the Translational Research Institute and the University of Queensland (Australia).

He explains that the new vaccine consists of human antibodies linked to a tumor-specific protein. – We are studying its ability to target human cells and activate the memory of cancer cells – explains the researcher.

How does the tested cancer vaccine work?

The researchers point out that the vaccine has several features that give it an advantage over others that have already yielded promising results in early clinical trials.

– Firstly, it can be produced as a formula available immediately, which allows to avoid the financial and logistic challenges related to the preparation of a vaccine for a specific patient – says Prof. Radford.

Second, the vaccine is effective at recognizing antigens present on cancer cells, few of which are found in healthy tissues. This potentially means that the therapy is effective and has minimal side effects.

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Cancer – the leading cause of death in the world

The next phases of clinical trials will verify the operation and safety of the invention. Scientists, however, are hopeful.

– We are pleased that our research has been described in a prestigious journal and we hope that our work on developing a safe and effective cancer vaccine will bring benefits to patients in the future – adds the specialist.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Almost 10 million people die every year as a result of cancer diseases. In Poland, cancer kills about 100 people.

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