Cancer Vaccines
Vaccines, the Next Level of Cancer Treatment
While not every person in the world will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, nearly everyone has or will be impacted by the disease. Given its far-reaching impacts, many have wished for the discovery of a game-changing vaccine that would eradicate cancer once and for all. While the likelihood of a single miracle shot is not on the near-term horizon, vaccines have enormous potential to transform cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes.
According to Manish Patel, MD, director of drug development at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS), advancements in cancer vaccine research are trending upward. “It’s an exciting, fast-paced field,” he said.
What are therapeutic vaccines?
Therapeutic vaccines are a form of immunotherapy that help the body recognize, destroy and prevent the spread or return of cancer cells. Dr. Patel describes them as “next level” and especially promising for the treatment of melanoma and cancers of the breast, lung, stomach and bladder. “Vaccines can be used by themselves or in combination with other therapies for patients with certain types of immunosensitive cancers whose treatment involves regulating the immune system in various ways,” he said.
For example, a newly diagnosed patient with early-stage cancer may receive standard therapy, such as chemotherapy along with a tumor vaccine, followed by surgery and possibly more tumor vaccine. Vaccines can be given again after the initial treatment to boost the immune system in particular ways and reduce the risk of spread or recurrence.
Cancer vaccines are considered a type of precision medicine, an approach that tailors cancer care to an individual’s unique genetic profile and tumor type. Vaccines are created in a lab where a patient’s tumor is analyzed using sophisticated next-generation sequencing. Producing an effective vaccine treatment is a complex process that takes time, often six to eight weeks.
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As Dr. Patel explains, “Once samples of a patient’s cancer tissues, blood or other specimens are collected and sent to the laboratory, scientists are tasked with finding the specific antigen panel and then creating a custom vaccine that will trigger the immune system to target that patient’s specific gene panel.” In addition to manufacturing obstacles, other logistics must be precise and planned with the treatment team and the patient’s schedule. “During that time, standard treatment can be started, with the knowledge that we’ll be able to add to it once the vaccine is manufactured,” said Dr. Patel.
Another possible roadblock is the cancer’s microenvironment — the complex ecosystem of cells, molecules and structures that surround a tumor cell and influence its behavior. “Tumors are smart and can find ways to evade the immune system,” notes Dr. Patel. Despite the challenges and roadblocks, clinical researchers are increasingly optimistic and committed to the discovery of breakthroughs that enhance medical knowledge and contribute to positive patient outcomes.
Dr. Patel reports that the pace of vaccine research has accelerated in the last ten years and the data is becoming more mature. Therapeutic vaccines are being looked at for all cancers, with new platforms and technologies in constant development to help speed up development.
“Immunotherapy clinical trials continue to uncover critical new information about the body’s response to immunotherapy,” said Dr. Patel. “While cancer vaccine research worldwide is at an early stage, each discovery achieved is bringing us closer to improving treatment effectiveness and extending lives for people with cancer.”
FCS operates one of the largest clinical research programs in the country, providing access to more than 300 early and late-phase clinical trials at any given time at clinic locations throughout Florida.
Currently, there are openings in the trial for patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer and gastric cancer.
To learn more about clinical trial research at FCS, visit: FCS Clinical Trials.
