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Prostate Cancer Vaccine A Work in Progress

December 6, 2009 8:47 am 2 comments

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By May 1 of 2010, U.S. News & World Report tells us, the FDA will make a decision on the approval of Provenge, which has been shown to increase the survival of men with advanced prostate cancer, for use as a vaccine against prostate cancer. The more interesting news in the U.S. News & World Report piece concerns the work being done at the University of Iowa, where urology researchers have inserted the genetic code for prostate-specific antigen into a weakened cold  virus.That sleight of hand causes the body's immune system to think that PSA is a foreign intruder
like rest of the virus's proteins, and the T-cells go on a
search-and-destroy mission against the invading cancer cells. The science has been demonstrated in animal models, U.S. News & World Report reports, and it is now being tested on people.Only 32 men with advanced prostate cancer
got the vaccine, and over half of the lived longer than
would be expected—three patients lived close to four years longer. Hardly a slam dunk, but it's a start.

Read more in U.S. News & World Report.

2 Comments

  • LINDA MENDEL
    December 6, 2009
    9:28 am

    THIS WOULD BE SO WONDERFUL! I LOST MY WONDERTFUL HUSBAND OF 35 YEARS TO THIS CANCER MABEY WITH THIS NEW BREAK THROUUGH SOME ONE WONT HAVE TO ENDER MY LOSS!

    Reply
  • Robert Moore
    December 6, 2009
    8:23 pm

    This is good news I was diagnoised with prostate cancer in Febuary of this year and mine was in the very earlier stages, but this is very good news. I would like to see more companys get involed with the research like they do with breast cancer, both are so important to find a cure for. We need to find cures for all cancers.

    Reply

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