Nobel Prize-winning oncologist Dr. Catherine Wu has made significant progress in cancer treatment with personalized vaccines tailored to an individual's genetic makeup, showing promise in clinical trials for various forms of cancer. Inspired by a childhood dream and a bone marrow transplant she witnessed as a medical intern, Dr. Wu's innovative approach harnesses the body's immune system to target and fight cancer cells, bypassing the need for animal testing and earning recognition from the FDA.
Researchers at Edith Cowan University have conducted a trial combining a personalized mRNA vaccine, tailored to individual tumor genetics, with conventional immunotherapy for high-risk melanoma patients. The results showed a significant increase in cancer-free survival rates and decreased disease recurrence. The trial marks a significant stride toward personalized cancer treatment and has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment beyond melanoma.
Scientists have discovered a link between the risk of cancer and clusters of chemicals in an individual’s cells called circular RNAs. These RNAs can cause tumors known as oncogenes. The discovery offers hope of developing personalized vaccines for vulnerable patients and a screening program that could detect tumors decades in advance. The breakthrough opens the door for using these molecules as markers of disease at a very early stage, where the likelihood of curing cancers is much higher.
