More than fifty hospitals in the United Kingdom began the phase of human testing of a vaccine for pancreatic cancer, which has the lowest survival rate.
More than a thousand patients with advanced disease have been incorporated into the draft TeloVac tests.
Although vaccines are commonly associated with infection prevention, in the case of TeloVac, look for a different strategy: to stimulate the immune system to stand up to cancer cells.
The test involves inoculating the vaccine in regular doses While continuing chemotherapy. The results will be compared with those for patients receiving only chemotherapy treatment
The vaccine contains small sections of the protein telomerase, cancer cells produce in large quantities. The aim is to stimulate the immune system to recognize the telomerase present on the surface of cancer cells and thus attack the tumor.
Professor John Neoptolemos, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, one of the coordinators of the tests, said: "The problem is that tumors are intelligent and can become immune cells that help protect them traitors."
"The vaccine gets rid of the masking effect of the tumor," said Neoptolemos
Worse
survival rate for pancreatic cancer has the worst survival rate of all the most common forms of the disease. Only three out of every hundred patients survive five years or more. Rhona
Longworth, 43, was diagnosed in February. "For someone who never smoked and hardly drank, was a huge impact."
"I have the hope that the vaccine works and that I am a person who will live happily and healthily after this."
Joan Roberts, 69, keeps his fingers crossed while says that the vaccine appears to have few side effects.
"I am satisfied that remains stable and has not grown. You have to be positive," he said.
TeloVac tests have funds of the charity Cancer Research UK, which supports studies against various cancers, and is
using vaccines or antibodies.
TeloVac is not a cure
The manufacturer of the vaccine, Kael-GemVax South Korea plans to test a new vaccine for lung cancer later, using the same technology.
Last year, the first therapeutic vaccine against cancer came to U.S. market as a treatment for prostate cancer.
Phase 3 or final TeloVac tests should produce results within a year.
Cancer Research UK notes that the vaccine has just begun to be tested in humans will not represent a cure, but if it works, could serve to prolong the patient's life
Source: BBC World
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