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PERSONALIZED VACCINE
A therapeutic cancer vaccine may be developed from the patient's tumor to help provide the most personalized cancer treatment available. Tumor cells from the Personalized Tumorgraft (cells from the patient's tumor) are genetically modified, then used to stimulate a patient's immune system to recognize and, if possible, attack the patient's cancer cells. Personalized Vaccines are designed to treat cancers that have already occurred. They are intended to delay or stop cancer cell growth; cause tumor shrinkage; prevent cancer from coming back; or eliminate cancer cells that are not killed by other forms of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. As part of a comprehensive treatment plan, Personalized Vaccines may have the potential to be a curative therapeutic option.
How do cancer treatment vaccines work?
(reference: National Cancer Institute)
Therapeutic cancer vaccines are designed to treat cancers that have already occurred. They are intended to delay or stop cancer cell growth; cause tumor shrinkage; prevent cancer from coming back; or eliminate cancer cells that are not killed by other forms of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Developing effective therapeutic cancer vaccines requires a detailed understanding of how immune system cells and cancer cells interact. The immune system often does not “see” cancer cells as dangerous or foreign, as it generally does with microbes. Therefore, the immune system does not mount a strong attack against the cancer cells.
There are many reasons the immune system does not easily recognize the threat posed by an already growing cancer. Most important is the fact that cancer cells carry normal self-antigens in addition to any cancer-associated antigens. Furthermore, cancer cells sometimes undergo genetic changes that lead to the loss of cancer-associated antigens. Finally, cancer cells can produce chemical messages that suppress specific anticancer immune responses by killer T cells. As a result, even when the immune system recognizes a growing cancer as a threat, the cancer may still escape a strong attack by the immune system.
What is the benefit of a Personalized Vaccine?
The Personalized Vaccine my help provide a patient the most personalized cancer treatment available, one that may help optimize the patient’s potential for a positive outcome.
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