Universal cancer vaccine created: Scientists

Preliminary results from early clinical trials have shown that the vaccine can trigger an immune response in patients and reduce levels of disease,The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Now,the scientists hope to conduct larger trials to prove it can be effective against a range of cancers.

In fact,they believe it could be used to combat small tumours if they are detected early enough or to prevent the return of the disease in patients who have undergone other forms of treatment such as surgery.

Cancer cells usually evade patients immune systems because they are not recognised as being a threat. The scientists have,however,found that molecule MUC1,found in high amounts on the surface of cancer cells,can be used to help immune system detect tumours.

The vaccine uses a section of the molecule to prime the immune system so it can identify and destroy cancer cells.

In a safety trial at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem,10 patients suffering from multiple myeloma,a form of blood cancer,received the vaccine. Seven of the patients finished treatment and Vaxil reported all of them had greater immunity against cancer cells compared to before. Vaxil added that three patients are now free of detectable cancer.