A vaccine against cancer has been developed that can cause the immune system to attack diseased cells. Already tested on mice and monkeys, the results according to the researchers give hope for the possibility of creating a preventive therapy called “universal”, as it is capable of unleashing the body’s defenses regardless of the type of neoplasm or the profile of the patient who suffers from it. However, the definition of vaccine, adopted by the researchers themselves, can be misleading. In fact, this anti-cancer therapy it is not a preventative drug like traditional vaccinesbut it is meant to be given only to people who have already been diagnosed with cancer in order to stimulate the immune system to fight the diseased cells and prevent the disease from spreading.
Cancer cells, in fact, contain substances called antigens, which are not present in normal cells or, if present, at much lower levels. For this reason, activating the immune system response against tumors often turns out to be much more complicated than expected: tumor antigens vary greatly from tumor to tumor and from patient to patient. Furthermore, when the cells “go crazy” and become cancerous, they activate a series of molecular mechanisms aimed at blocking the immune system, in particular the T and NK (Natural Killer) lymphocytes which usually act to eliminate cells that develop dangerous mutations in your own DNA.
The new vaccine is designed to overcome these difficulties and, in fact, aims to stimulate two proteins, MICA and MICB. These are produced by cells when their genetic material is damaged, in order to signal the immune system to eliminate them so as not to aggravate the situation. (formation of a tumor). Cancer cells are usually able to neutralize the two proteins, dispersing them, but the new vaccine would be able to prevent them from getting rid of them, making it much easier for the T and NK cells of the immune system to activate.
In conclusion, the vaccine was tested on animal models and proved to be safe and effective: the therapy is able to promote protective immunity even against tumors with mutations that normally escape the body’s natural defenses. The researchers ensure that a trial on cancer patients is already in the planning stage. AAlthough the times could prove to be long since, generally, the development of a vaccine requires seven to ten years of research with quality tests and various experiments, and of course it cannot be assumed that all trials give satisfactory results. According to the researchers, however, this is an extremely promising strategy, which could pave the way for the development of a truly effective universal cancer vaccine.
[di Eugenia Greco]