VACCINE FOR CANCER & NEOANTIGENS

GS 3 – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 

Recent Development: Russian scientists claim to have developed an mRNA vaccine capable of suppressing tumor growth and metastasis, as reported by Russia’s state-run news agency.

Key Terms:

• Vaccine: A substance that stimulates the immune system to combat harmful pathogens.
• Cancer Vaccine: Therapeutic vaccines aimed at individuals with cancer to treat or prevent its recurrence.

Personalized Vaccine Approaches:

• Created by harvesting a patient’s immune cells, exposing them to cancer-specific proteins, and reintroducing them into the body.
• Example: A prostate cancer vaccine extended survival by approximately 4 months.

Preventable Cancers via Vaccines:

1. Cervical Cancer: Vaccination against HPV (e.g., India’s Cervavac).
2. Liver Cancer: Vaccination against chronic hepatitis B infection.

Russian mRNA Vaccine Highlights:

• Tailored using genetic analysis of tumors to identify mutations (neoantigens).
• Neoantigens: Unique proteins on cancer cells triggering immune responses.

Significance:

• Potential to revolutionize personalized cancer treatments by enhancing immune targeting of cancer cells.