Immune System Versus Cancer

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A rather clever approach to cancer immunotherapy is detailed at Medical News Today: "The vaccine, originally developed at Johns Hopkins, uses irradiated pancreatic cancer cells incapable of growing, but genetically altered to secrete a molecule called GM-CSF. The molecule acts as a lure to attract immune system cells to the site of the tumor vaccine where they encounter antigens on the surface of the irradiated cells. Then, these newly armed immune cells patrol the rest of the patient's body to destroy remaining circulating pancreatic cancer cells with the same antigen profile. ... Even though our results are preliminary, the survival rates are an improvement over most published results of pancreatic cancer treatment studies." It remains to be seen how effective this methodology can become - reliable treatments or preventions for cancer are an essential part of extending the healthy human life span.

Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=33688