Scientists Worldwide Advance Cancer Treatment With New Vaccines and Immunotherapies
Scientists worldwide are making strides in cancer treatment, with new balance vaccines and immunotherapies offering hope beyond traditional methods. While a cure remains elusive, these advancements could significantly improve patient outcomes.
Cancer immunotherapy, which strengthens the body's natural defences against cancer, is at the forefront of these news. The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is creating a novel HPV vaccine to both prevent and treat cervical cancer. Meanwhile, the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is working on personalized cancer vaccines that enhance the body's immune response. BioNTech, known for its COVID-19 vaccine, is also developing mRNA-based cancer vaccines and T-cell therapies for various tumor types.
Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies, like Alemtuzumab (Campath) and Trastuzumab (Herceptin), use antibodies to target and neutralize cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy, with six FDA-approved treatments for blood cancers, involves modifying T-cells to better recognize and destroy cancer cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab (Tencentriq), nivolumab (Opdivo), and pembrolizumab (Keytruda), boost the immune system's response to cancer. These treatments can be used alone or in combination with conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation.
Even after complete remission, cancer cells can linger, making it crucial to explore new treatments. Two FDA-approved cancer vaccines, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for early-stage bladder cancer and Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for metastatic prostate cancer, offer promising avenues.
While a cure for cancer remains a work in progress, ongoing research into new treatments like vaccines and immunotherapies brings us closer to a future where cancer is no longer a life-threatening disease. These advancements could transform cancer care, providing more effective and less invasive treatment options for patients.
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