Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Trialled: Results 'Encouraging'
Scientists in the US have described the results of a trial involving a new ovarian cancer vaccine as 'encouraging'. The assessment was carried out at the New York-based Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and the results published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The study was welcomed by Cancer Research UK, although it stressed that further tests would be required.
The vaccine is intended to augment the level of immune response that the human body would normally generate, and achieves this though combining a fragment of ovarian cancer protein alongside a molecule with immune response enhancing properties. After being injected, the vaccine attacks a certain protein present in a large percentage of cells affected by ovarian cancer, but absent in untouched cells.
The scientists trialled the vaccine in women suffering from a particular strand of ovarian cancer - epithelial.
It should be emphasised that the study was meant to be a phase one clinical trial - hence was just an initial exploration into the vaccine's performance. However, even at this stage, the researchers were encouraged by the results. According to the principal researcher involved, Professor Kunle Odunsi, there now exists "compelling evidence that the immune system has the capacity to recognise and kill ovarian cancer cells."
He continued: "Our vaccine strategy is simply taking advantage of this knowledge in an effort to improve the outcome for ovarian cancer patients. We are confident that the vaccine will eventually be widely available."
Cancer Research UK's Dr Alison Ross was receptive to the results, but urged that further trials would be needed to verify them. "We welcome any research that could lead to improved survival for people with ovarian cancer, and cancer vaccines have exciting potential", she said.
"This early trial shows encouraging results but it's important to remember that much larger studies will be needed before we know for sure whether the vaccine is safe and effective."
The majority of patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer find chemotherapy to be effective. However, over 70 per cent develop recurrent, fatal cancer within five years of first being diagnosed.
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Research and Development Analyst
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