Possible cancer vaccines

Cancer cells

A band of scientists in universities around the globe are a step closer to finding a comprehensive cancer vaccine by producing drugs that can alert the immune system of the impending threat.

The issue with most cancers is that they evade our immune systems, and although they have surface markers, known as antigens, the body doesn't seem able to mount a concerted attack. As the tumour grows the immune system becomes more compromised.

"I think we really are on the cusp of a revolution in cancer immunology," said Andres Salazar, CEO of Oncovir, a Washington, D.C., company which makes an immune system booster for cancer vaccines. "We hope to make patients allergic to their cancers."

Cancer vaccines

Amongst the first commercial cancer vaccines likely to be first out the gate is sipuleucel-T, a vaccine against advanced prostate cancer being made by Dendreon Corp. of Seattle, Washington.

Not far behind in the pipeline is Stimuvax, a vaccine being made by Merck in Germany that targets a cancer marker known as MUC1, which is present in many different tumors.

UPMC researcher Olivera Finn, has also developed a vaccine against the cancer marker MUC1 which has shown limited success in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.

Interestingly, Dr. Finn believes that her vaccines will be most successful on patients who are yet to develop cancer, and as such is undertaking research with UPMC researcher Robert Schoen in developing a vaccine for patients who have precancerous polyps in their colons, to see if it prevents the onset of colorectal cancer. Despite a long testing process, early signs have been positive, with patients showing a strong immune response with few side effects. "If we immunize early on, the cells that become abnormal might actually be eliminated by a strong immune response," she said.

Ross Densley

Ross Densley is a graduate from Bath Spa University, and has freelanced for several magazines ranging across a section of topics such as animation, business, film and lifestyle. When Ross is not working he writes and edits his own satirical website.

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