New Vaccine That Targets 90% of Cancers Shows Promising Results in Human Safety Trials

A promising new cancer vaccine, ImMucin, targets a molecule found in over 90% of all cancers. This allows  the drug to be very effective in fighting all types of cancer. The tests were conducted at the Hadassah medical center in Jerusalem, and consisted of ten patients with the cancer, multiple myeloma, which is a blood cancer that affects plasma cells in bone marrow. Tel Aviv researchers, and Vaxil Biotheraputics said that seven of the patients who had finished treatment, all had significantly improved immunity against cancer cells compared to before they were given the vaccine, and three of the patients in the study were freed from their condition. The prophylactic vaccine works by enhancing the bodies natural defense mechanisms, and aims to prevent cancer conditions, rather than attacking cancer cells. ImMucin gives information to the patients immune system, to identify and destroy cancer cells with the MUC1 marker.

This connects directly to our unit about the immune system, and how it is used to fight infection. It holds many connections to other units we have studied including genetics, because the drug uses the genetic marker MUC1 to find cancer cells and separate them from the healthy cells. Finally, this article connects to our unit in body systems, studying how the immune system learns to identify harmful bacteria and other health risks, which the vaccine does.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20120409/9473/cancer-immucin-vaccine-clinical-trial-research.htm