Cancer vaccines, a new treatment method

   These days, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in all countries. However, medicine is constantly evolving and many countries are conducting clinical trials to develop new drugs against cancer.

   Cancers such as melanoma, prostate cancer, and cancers of the female genitalia and breast are among the most dangerous forms of oncology. At the heart of cancerous processes are disorders that have arisen in the DNA strand due to various factors. Under the influence of physical, chemical factors, as well as poor heredity, the body begins to deform normal cells into cancerous cells.

   Today, the development of vaccines against various types of cancer is at the forefront. There are several types of vaccines, depending on how the tumor antigen is delivered to the tumor: whole-cell, viral-vector and dendritic-cell.

For the first time in the world, in Germany, clinical trials of individual cancer vaccines have been conducted. The first clinical trial in the world has shown that a vaccine based on RNA that encodes individual mutations can also specifically activate the immune system of a patient with an antitumor effect. The clinical trial was conducted in patients with stages 3 and 4 melanoma. Vaccine administration induced a cascade of immune reactions. When compared to the control group, the survival period increased significantly with the use of the vaccine.

   To produce such a vaccine requires the coordinated work of a large number of specialists from various fields. First of all, a comprehensive identification of individual mutations (known as neoepitopes) in various tumor biopsy materials was carried out using next-generation sequencing techniques. This technique is used to determine the nucleotide sequence of DNA and RNA in order to characterize the primary structure. This technique is followed by computerized analysis. This technique allows the identification of potentially suitable target structures for a vaccine.

   The vaccine was administered to 13 patients with melanoma and activated the immune system against several patient-specific tumor antigens. The result was a positive response after vaccination with neoepitopes and complete tumor regression was reported after administration of an individual cancer vaccine and anti-PD-1-therapies.

At the same time, the scientists noted that each patient developed an immune response against several target structures that were selected for the vaccine. This fact indicates that the patient’s own immune system is fighting many possible cancers.

Thus, this vaccine stimulates potent polyspecific T-cell immunity against various cancers.

   In addition, positive results have been obtained in the development of vaccines against prostate cancer, as well as breast cancer. Peptide vaccines are used to treat these types of oncology. This type of vaccine also stimulates the patient’s immune system to fight malignant cells.

   A dendritic cell vaccine has been developed for prostate cancer, which has a positive effect on prostate cancer with metastases, when hormone therapy is practically ineffective.

   Another type of vaccine is peptide vaccines. Breast cancer vaccines use tumor antigen — oncoprotein HER2 — mixed with an immunoadjuvant. In such a composition, this compound causes various immune reactions of the body directed against tumor cells.

Unfortunately, vaccine development takes a long period of time.

   In Germany, the development of new vaccines against various types of cancer is progressing at the fastest pace and it is possible to receive treatment with the vaccine. This gives many patients with cancer a chance to recover when standard treatment does not work anymore.

   All of the above mentioned latest effective treatment options for oncologic diseases are successfully applied in Munich clinics.

   It is in Munich that you can get treatment with vaccine and other most effective methods, because it is here, in the clinics of Munich, one of the most powerful scientific and practical bases not only in Germany, but also in Europe, which allows to develop new effective methods of treatment of malignant neoplasms and immediately put them into practice.

   Working in close cooperation with clinics, doctors and professors involved in the specialized treatment of certain types of cancer pathology and the development of new effective methods of fighting them, we keep abreast of all their latest scientific developments, treatments and achievements.

   Therefore, we can help you to find a clinic and a leading specialist strictly according to the individual characteristics of your disease.

          Contact us and we will help you.

cancer treatmentcancer treatment in Germanycancer treatment in Munichvaccine treatment for cancer