Israeli researchers develop cancer vaccine, world yawns
Here's hoping that the BDS'ers will at least have the intellectual honesty to boycott this one too. Israeli researchers have come up with a vaccine - it's still being tested - that fights off certain common kinds of cancers (Hat Tip: Tundra Tabloids).Scientists have, however, found that a molecule called MUC1, which is found in high amounts on the surface of cancer cells, can be used to help the immune system detect tumours.Oh - and lest you think that Vaxil Biotheraputics doesn't come from Israel....
The new vaccine, developed by drug company Vaxil Biotheraputics along with researchers at Tel Aviv University, uses a small section of the molecule to prime the immune system so that it can identify and destroy cancer cells.
A statement from Vaxil Biotheraputics said: "ImMucin generated a robust and specific immune response in all patients which was observed after only 2-4 doses of the vaccine out of a maximum of 12 doses.
"In some of the patients, preliminary signs of clinical efficacy were observed."
The results are still to be formally published but if further trials prove to be successful the vaccine could be available within six years.
As a therapeutic vaccine it is designed to be given to patients who are already suffering from cancer to help their bodies fight off the disease rather than to prevent disease in the first place.
Cancer cells contain high levels of MUC1 as it is thought to be involved helping tumours grow. Healthy human cells also contain MUC1, but have levels that are too low to trigger the immune system after vaccination.
When a vaccinated patient's immune system encounters cancer cells, however, the far larger concentration of MUC1 causes it to attack and kill the tumour.
As MUC1 is found in 90 per cent of all cancers, the researchers believe it could be used to combat the growth and spread of a wide range of cancers.
In a safety trial at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem, ten patients suffering from multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, have now received the vaccine.
Seven of the patients have now finished the treatment and Vaxil reported that all of them had greater immunity against cancer cells compared to before they were given the vaccine.
Vaxil added that three patients are now free of detectable cancer following the treatment.
Vaxil was founded in late 2006 by an experienced management team supported by leading scientists and clinicians. It is headquartered at the Weizmann Science Park, Nes –Ziona, Israel.So why isn't this getting more publicity? Hmmm.
I hope the BDS'ers will boycott it. Darwin would call that selection. Heh.
Labels: cancer victims
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:41 PM
2 Comments:
Ha! Carl! No one is yawning. They're just waiting for some other people to try it first! :) They'll want to know what happens.... so, for example, they've been giving that HPV shot, which, if it actually works against the right virus, will be quite a remarkable gift. But... it makes the kid who gets it sick for a couple of days. Hmmm... Most people get it for their kids anyway...
I remember when I first left home out on my own. And they had those new fangled flu shots (that killed some people! Yikes!).
In summary, everyone is very excited about this and keep up posted on the trials, revisions, etc. We'll all jump in there at some point! :)
"I hope the BDS'ers will boycott it. Darwin would call that selection. Heh."
Sadly, that's not so far-fetched. Imams in Af-stan, Pakistan, Nigeria have, in recent years, told their flock not to allow their children to be inoculated with the polio vaccine in WHO vaccination drives in their respective countries, as it's a Western plot to poison Muslim children. So now, in each of these countries, there are thousands of children suffering from polio due to their parents following the imams' advise.
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