Cuba Registers Vaccine for Lung Cancer

Havana, Jun 24 (Prensa Latina) A Cuban vaccine for advanced lung cancer therapy was certified by the Center for State Control of Drugs, said doctor Gisela Gonzalez, specialist of the Center of Molecular Immunology. The vaccine named CimaVax-EGF passed several clinical tests and showed security and improvement in the quality of life of patients bearing some variants of these tumors. The research of this product began in 1992, at the National Institute of Oncology. It was later developed since 1994 by the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM) in collaboration with the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. The vaccine is composed by the Epidermal Growth Factor, linked to another protein that helps the immune system to create the desired immune response against the EGF. The body of those vaccinated produces antibodies that recognize and bind specifically to EGF, avoiding its binding to the receptor and the beginning of cell proliferation. The effect is a decrease in tumor growth, depending upon each patient's response. With this vaccine, up to now, seven clinical trials have been concluded, in Cuba, Canada and England. There are other 3 ongoing clinical tests, 2 in Cuba and another in Malaysia. In this clinical experience, more than 400 advanced lung cancer patients have received the Vaccine CimaVax EGF. It has been demonstrated that the vaccine does not provoke severe collateral effects, it triggers an immune response, increasing the life expectancy .four to six months- of part of the vaccinated patients together with an associated good quality of life, explained Dr. Gonzalez in a press round. Obtained from two recombining proteins, the product is the first one in its class in the world. Apart from Cuba, it has been registered also in Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia and Brazil. Doctor Elia Neninger, oncologist participating in the project, confirmed this is a therapeutic vaccine, that is, it does not prevent cancer. It is a treatment that serves to "maintain or consolidate" the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the cancerous tumor. She highlighted the security of this product that lacks any collateral effects that endanger the lives of patients and at the same time it contributes to reduce the prevailing symptoms of the ailment (difficulty to breathe, lack of appetite and weight loss). Last June 12, the vaccine was certified by the Cuban Sanitary Register. For her part, Tania Crombet, director of Clinical Research at CIM indicated that CimaVax-EGF could be potentially useful in the treatment of tumors of head and neck, brain, stomach, breast, prostate, colorectal, ovary and bladder. Further studies are required to determine its reach and effectiveness on other types of cancer, she added. The research and production on the vaccine are carried out by the CIM and the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. At present, there are over a million patients in the world who suffer advanced lung cancer. In Cuba, a total of 4,500 persons die each year from that pathology.

Prensa Latina News posted on 6/26/2008 11:24:20 AM

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