WA ' vaccine ' that pits immune system against prostate cancer

By injecting prostate cancer patients with a genetically engineered 'vaccine', researchers at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center in Baltimore, Maryland, have activated the immune system against the disease.

Such a complete and through activation of the immune system against prostate cancer has never before been seen, according to study senior author Dr. William G. Nelson, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The study was published in the October 15th issue of the journal Cancer Research.

The Johns Hopkins researchers focused on eight prostate cancer patients whose cancers had spread throughout the body despite surgical removal of the prostate.

Using cells taken from these patients, the researchers grew prostate cancer cells in the laboratory. They then injected a potent anti-cancer gene, GM-CSF, into these cells. Then they reintroduced the cancer cells back into the patient. The cells were irradiated prior to injection to eliminate the possibility of triggering new cancers. 

Within a month after injection, the cancer 'vaccine' had placed each patient's immune T-cells on 'high alert' against prostate cancer cells.

The researchers "were not surprised to see T-cell activation," Nelson said in a Johns Hopkins statement, since T-cells are naturally 'turned on' by the presence of retroviruses such as the one carrying the vaccine.

Side effects were minimal: Mostly itching at the injection site and flu-like symptoms.

The researchers believe the therapy holds promise as a new method of attacking metastatic (spreading) cancers. "Using gene therapy, we re-educated the immune systems to recognize prostate cancer cells as a potential infection and attack," explained study lead author Dr. Jonathan Simons.

He believes that genetically-engineered vaccines "could make a real difference when used as secondary therapy".

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