Cancer Immunotherapy & Vaccines

Jackie Clemente

Abstract

Cancer vaccines, especially when combined with immune-stimulating drugs, have advanced in ways that have the potential to outsmart cancer. While our immune systems provide us with a defense against cancer, vaccines give us a leg up. Cancer cells can evade our immune systems' attacks, and vaccines can boost our immune systems (2).

Process

Cancer vaccines include unique markers (antigens) that differentiate cancer cells from normal cells. These vaccines also contain an adjuvant, which informs the immune system that cancer is present. When vaccines are injected, the combination of these antigens and adjuvants creates a response in our immune system to the cancer. This helps the cells in our immune system find and destroy the cancer cells (2).

Preventive Vaccines

Preventive vaccines, which are the most conventional, help our body defend itself against viruses and bacteria. Preventive cancer vaccines decrease the risk of cancer. They do this by protecting against certain viral infections that can potentially lead to cancer. The approved preventive cancer vaccines are the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine. The HPV vaccine protects from contracting HPV, which is common in most sexually active people. Infection from HPV can cause head and neck cancers, vaginal cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer, cervical cancer, and vulvar cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine targets a disease in the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus.  Hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer. The HPV vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine greatly lower the risk of these cancers (1).

Therapeutic Vaccines

Therapeutic vaccines are used to treat the cancer after it has evolved. These vaccines train the body for protection against cells that are abnormal or damaged, especially cells that are cancerous. Therapeutic cancer vaccines have the ability to destroy cancer cells left over from radiation therapy or surgery, prevent the spread or growth of a tumor, and stop cancer from reappearing after being treated. The melanoma vaccine, bladder cancer vaccine, and prostate cancer vaccine have all been approved and are currently in use. They all stimulate a response in the immune system to treat certain cancers. There are also therapeutic cancer vaccine trials, in which different cancers are tested with certain vaccines. The pancreatic cancer vaccine and the head and neck cancer vaccine are both involved in clinical trials, potentially evolving to better attack cancer cells (1).

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References

[1] Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (n.d.-a). Cancer Vaccines | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Retrieved from www.mskcc.org website: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/cancer-treatments/immunotherapy/cancer-vaccines

[2] Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (n.d.-b). Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: How They Work | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Retrieved from www.mskcc.org website: https://www.mskcc.org/videos/therapeutic-cancer-vaccines-how-they-work