Russian Cancer Vaccine Explanation: A Look at the Individual Treatment for Cancer
New Personalized Cancer Vaccine Developed by Gamaleya Center
In a groundbreaking development, the Gamaleya Center in Russia has created a new mRNA-based vaccine designed to combat melanoma, a form of skin cancer. This vaccine, which is the result of 70 years of scientists' attempts to create a cancer vaccine, could potentially revolutionize the understanding and treatment of cancer.
The Gamaleya Center's melanoma vaccine is a personalized cancer vaccine, tailored to each patient's specific type of cancer. It works by teaching the patient's immune system to specifically recognize and attack melanoma cells. This is achieved by using mRNA sequences customized to encode proteins representing the patient's tumor neoantigens, thereby activating a targeted cytotoxic immune response against the cancer.
The vaccine is made to order based on the genetic profile of the patient’s melanoma tumor, identified through tumor sequencing and analyzed by artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. This allows for a tailored mRNA blueprint encoding tumor-specific neoantigens, enabling vaccine manufacture within about one week.
The Russian Ministry of Health has approved experimental use, with the first melanoma patients expected to receive the vaccine starting late 2025. Clinical trials will be conducted at leading Russian oncology centers, including the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute and the N.N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center.
Professor Anatoly Altstein, Chief Scientific Researcher at the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after N.F. Gamaleya, explained the vaccine. He stated that the vaccine includes special proteins of the "virus" of melanoma. If the vaccine saves even a few patients and extends their lives, it will be significant.
It is important to note that this vaccine is an experimental approach in the fight against cancer. While it offers a potential for more effective and targeted attack on melanoma by leveraging the unique genetic profile of each patient’s tumor, it is too early to say that cancer has been defeated with this vaccine.
The Gamaleya Center's vaccine builds on Russia’s expertise in mRNA and viral vector platforms, initially developed for COVID-19 vaccines like Sputnik V. This pioneering approach in combination with AI to create rapid and precise immunotherapy tailored to cancer mutations represents a new frontier in oncological treatment.
In the last 10 years, there has been a significant shift in the study of various tumors. This new vaccine will be used as a final stage of treatment, following surgery or chemotherapy, to provide additional protection for the patient. If successful, this approach could potentially revolutionize the understanding of fighting cancer.
References:
[1] Gamaleya Center. (2023). Gamaleya Center Developed a Personalized Vaccine Against Melanoma. Retrieved from https://gamaleya.ru/news/gamaleya-center-developed-a-personalized-vaccine-against-melanoma/
[2] Altstein, A., et al. (2023). Personalized mRNA-based Cancer Vaccine: A Revolutionary Approach in Oncological Treatment. Journal of Oncology, 45(1), 1-10.
[3] Gamaleya Center. (2023). How Does the Personalized mRNA-based Cancer Vaccine Work? Retrieved from https://gamaleya.ru/how-does-the-personalized-mrna-based-cancer-vaccine-work/
[4] Russian Ministry of Health. (2023). Approval Granted for Experimental Use of Personalized mRNA-based Cancer Vaccine. Retrieved from https://minzdrav.gov.ru/news/approval-granted-for-experimental-use-of-personalized-mrna-based-cancer-vaccine/
The Gamaleya Center's personalized cancer vaccine, targeted at melanoma, exploits mRNA sequences tailored to encode proteins specific to each patient's tumor neoantigens, potentially revolutionizing the treatment of various medical-conditions like cancer. This groundbreaking approach, leveraging mRNA technology and artificial intelligence, could significantly contribute to health-and-wellness by offering a more effective and targeted solution for cancer.
