|
The new experimental ovarian cancer vaccine which seems to boost the body's anti-tumor defenses has also been observed to be a useful supplementary therapy for patients with this deadly malignancy.
Ovarian cancer which is also the most deadly reproductive cancer is often referred to as a silent killer because its difficulty encountered in its detection. The study of the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that while most women with the malignancy respond to chemotherapy, 70 per cent of patients die of recurrent disease within five years of diagnosis.
The purpose of this vaccine is not to prevent the cancer, but to extend a patient's period of remission by boosting their own immune system response to the tumor.
About 18 women with epilethial ovarian cancer who were given the vaccine went 19 months on average without a recurrence of their tumors during a preliminary trial.
The vaccine also induced patients' antibody and T-cell responses. These induced cells were present in the women's blood six months, and in some cases 12 months, after immunization -- implying that the series of shots the women received had a long-lasting effect.
Research scientists at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, said the results were encouraging and that this vaccine or a similar one warranted further study as the basis for immunotherapy for ovarian cancer.
Tags:
Click to add your tags...,
| Comments () >> |
 |
| Write comment |
You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet. |
 |
Contact
