Patients' Own Tissue Could be Used for Cancer Vaccine
According to new research, a light-reactive vaccine capable of locating and treating tumours could be produced from the cancerous tissue located within cancer patients themselves
PDT Can Encourage Immune System to Fight Cancer
PDT, or Photodynamic Therapy, relies on light to stimulate anti-cancer treatments into action. However, trials have also highlighted how it can encourage the immune system to take cancer on. The scientists involved in the latest trials employed PDT to treat rodent tumour cells - injecting them into the mice to combat the disease.
The new research was undertaken by the British Columbia Cancer Agency, and covered in the British Journal of Cancer.
Scientists Using Cells Directly from Cancer's Site
Attempts have already been made in previous trials to stabilise the performance of PDT on the immune system, with a view to developing a vaccine. However, these have use lab-produced cancer cells. The Canadian scientists' work extends on this by using cancers cells straight from the tumour. Such a method, the scientists said, was found to show just as much effectiveness as when the cells were manufactured in the lab.
Theoretically, it can speed up the process, but even more significantly, it can potentially be more effective, as the vaccine produced is tailored directly to the cancer.
In the words of Dr Mladen Korbelik, one of the researchers involved: "The prospect of using samples from a patient's own tumour to treat them is really exciting."
Dr Korbelik continued: "This technique could mean that treatment is delivered more quickly and, most importantly, is tailored to the individual's cancer. Although our results showed this method produces powerful cancer vaccines, we are confident that this technique can be advanced further to be even more potent and effective."
Fewer Side Effects for Cancer Patients
Cancer Research UK's Dr Lesley Walker described the research as "an interesting application of PDT."
She added: "Using targeted treatments with better delivery and manipulating the body's own immune system to fight the disease means patients would experience fewer side effects. Although this type of vaccine is in its early stages, developing existing techniques in this way could provide us with more effective treatments in the future."
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Research and Development Analyst
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