A young British woman has become one of the first
cancer patients to be injected with a new vaccine designed to stimulate the
immune system so that it destroys tumours wherever they have spread in the
body.
Kelly Potter, 35, was diagnosed with advanced cervical
cancer in July 2015 and was among the first to be enrolled on a cancer vaccine
trial that will run over the next two years involving up to 30 volunteers.
Medical researchers have designed the vaccine to
encourage the immune system to react against a part of the cancer cell that
allows it to continuously replicate without ever dying.
At the same time, the patients on the trial will be
prescribed a chemotherapy drug that should, at low doses, "lift the
brakes" on the immune system so that it is no longer prevented from
attacking the body's own cancer cells, scientists said.
Kelly was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer,
and was eligible for the trial at Guy's Hospital in London because the disease
has unfortunately spread to other sites in her body. "Although I had
excellent treatment at Guy's where the cancer was stabilised, it had already
spread to spots on my liver and lungs. So when I was told that I may be
eligible for this trial, I was delighted," Potter said.
"To be part of this trial has changed my life for
the better. It's been a very positive experience and really interesting. I feel
honoured to be involved. You get the best treatment anyway at Guy's but it's
fantastic to be part of something that could be ground-breaking," she
said.
Reference: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Briton-among-first-patients-to-be-injected-with-cancer-vaccine/articleshow/51232786.cms
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