Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) issued a
press release today announcing a landmark immunotherapy vaccine trial designed to eliminate cancer cells and prevent the relapse of cancer. RPCI’s Center for Immunotherapy (CFI) launched a
phase I clinical research study of a vaccine made up of dendritic cells that aims to completely remove cancer cells from individuals diagnosed with several types of cancer. Researchers also hope this vaccine will prevent an individual’s cancer from returning once eliminated.
The process involves removing immune cells called dendritic cells from a patient. The cells are then treated reinjected into the patient in combination with a compound called rapamycin. Rapamycin has previously been used in assistant organ transplant recipients from rejecting their new organs. RCPI researchers found that rapamycin prevents a person’s immune system from using up its cancer-killing T-cells all at once. It is the memory attributes of these immune cells, which will be included in the vaccine that suggests that this vaccine may prevent cancer cells from returning in the long term.
Researchers at RCPI are hopeful that this new vaccine to help patients with bladder, brain, breast, esophageal, gastrointestinal, hepatocellular, kidney, lung, melanoma, ovarian, prostate, sarcoma and uterine tumors.
The attorneys at Doran & Murphy will continue to track the amazing progress made by the physicians and staff at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.