Experimental vaccine shows early promise against mesothelioma
A vaccine against mesothelioma, a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos, has shown early promise in its first clinical trial.
The experimental vaccine is an example of dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy, in which the body's own immune system is harnessed to target and destroy cancer cells. In the vaccine, a sample of the patient's 'dendritic' immune cells are mixed with proteins taken from their tumour. When implanted back into the patient, these cells can then activate other elements of the patient's immune system, known as T-cells, and encourage them to attack and destroy the tumour.
Read the whole article at Cancer Research UK
Reference
- Hegmans, J. et al (2010). Consolidative Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy Elicits Cytotoxicity Against Malignant Mesothelioma American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200909-1465OC
Keywords: mesothelioma, dendritic cell immunotherapy, cancer vaccine
5. 3. 2010 Cancer Research UK
