Cuban Prostate Cancer Vaccine 'Heberprovac' to Enter Third Phase of Trial Process

Specialists in Havana said that a Cuban vaccine against advanced prostate cancer will soon enter the third stage of its trial process, where it will be tested on 300 patients.

In this stage, researchers at the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), where the vaccine Heberprovac was developed, will compare its performance with that of Zoladex, a well known therapy used internationally to treat various types of neoplasms, reported Xinhua.

Caucasian Men Are Less Likely To Suffer From Prostate Cancer
The estimated lifetime risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer is approximately 29.3 percent for black men, 13.3 percent for white men and 7.9 percent for Asian men.

Researchers from CIBG said Heberprovac is already superior to Zoladex in its administration format, needing only seven shots.

The first four doses are given every 15 days and the rest are spread out over five months.

In comparison, Zoladex, which is also used to treat breast cancer, must be administered every three months via a sub-cutaneous implant.

New Biomarker Identified for Breast, Prostate Cancers: A Vital Step Towards Cancer Research
Experts have identified a new genetic biomarker which could bolster efforts to better identify patients who respond to certain types of chemotherapy drugs.

The specialists say that while Heberprovac has not yet been proven to be a cure for prostate cancer, it has led to "a greater survival rate and better quality of life" in the majority of patients treated with it.

The vaccine's first phase of trial took place in 2007 and the second phase concluded in early 2015.

Prostate Cancer of Five Different Types Identified, Each With Distinct Genetic Fingerprint
Five distinct types of prostate cancer were identified by researchers, which could help doctors identify patients with the aggressive forms of the disease.

Source-IANS

Prostate Cancer Among Shift Workers Not Different from That Among Daytime Workers
To find out if shift work also causes prostate cancer, the researchers evaluated personnel and health data of 27,828 male workers of a chemical company.