Vaccine could Fight Colorectal Cancer using Patient's own Tumor

Vaccine could Fight Colorectal Cancer using Patient's own Tumor
Dr. Barth has been investigating dendritic cell vaccines in humans and mice for more than 10 years. The researchers now understand the vaccine can be used to destroy tiny cancer cells that would eventually lead to death rather than destroying large colorectal tumors.
He explains, "It turned out we were asking the T-cells to do too much. The small number of T-cells that are generated by a vaccine can't destroy a large tumor. However, what they may be able to do is search out and destroy tumor cells that exist as only microscopic tumor deposits. Once we brought patients into a measurable tumor-free condition with surgery, the anti-tumor T-cells induced by the DC vaccine may help keep them that way."
The study included 26 patients with colorectal cancer and metastasis. The vaccine was given one month after surgery. At five-year follow-up, 63 percent of the patients developed an immune response to the DC vaccine and showed no signs of tumor. Just 18 percent those who failed to develop an immune response were cancer free.
Barth says he believes the vaccine could have an impact for treating cancer because "It's your own immune system doing the fighting.” The DC vaccine could lead to less toxic colorectal cancer treatment that can also prevent its return; pending further studies.