New Vaccine Could Add Time For Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma cancer patients may have now found a miracle in a new vaccine. British scientists at Liverpool University have been studying the efficacy of a vaccine tested on pancreatic patients. Named the "TeloVac jab," the vaccine is one of many new drugs that equips the body's own defense system to destroy cancer cells.

The vaccine works by using the human body's own defense. This enzyme strengthens cancer cells to be invulnerable, allowing them to divide and spread. Coordinator of the British clinical trial, Liverpool University Professor Neoptolemos, said that the results are looking very promising. Many subjects in the trial have asserted that the treatment added extra years to their lives. However, conclusive results of the study are not yet available. Presently, there are 1,000 people with late-stage pancreatic cancer who are engaging in the study.

The scientists hope that the vaccine will also be an effective treatment for other cancers such as lung, skin, and liver, resulting in a truly cure-all vaccine that can be utilized in many different situations and patients.

Dr. Jay Sangjae Kim is the founder of GemVax, a Korean company that is developing the TeloVac vaccine. He said they "strongly believe this has the potential to overcome the limits of other current cancer vaccines and become part of the standard of care not only for pancreatic cancer but for various other types of cancers."

Mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer are two of the most aggressive forms of cancer with few treatment options. While patients' symptoms can be alleviated by radiation and chemotherapy, the cancers quickly metastasize, giving patients minimal survival time. In addition, patients who are identified with mesothelioma may not feel any symptoms for up to thirty years after they were exposed to asbestos.

The most common cause of mesothelioma is the exposure to asbestos. When asbestos fibers are ingested or inhaled they become stuck in the lining of the lungs, heart, and abdomen. Once this happens, these tissues become inflamed, causing mutations in the genes and resulting in unrestricted cell growth and division. Patients who become diagnosed with stage three or higher are given about six months to a year to survive, and many who become diagnosed are placed in this group.

Mesothelioma cancer is most commonly found in construction workers from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, when asbestos was utilized most often as ceiling tiles, insulation, and floors.

A couple of clinical tests, including a hopeful one from the Memorial-Sloan Cancer Center, have been done to find a vaccine for people who have been exposed to asbestos to help prevent mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. To date, none are available outside of clinical trials.