3 for 1 on Vaccines

A new vaccine has been developed to fight the return of kidney cancer in patients who have previously had cancerous parts of their kidneys removed.

 

The vaccine is some years from a publically available treatment -- as it must be 'custom made' for each patient, because it uses cells from the tumour to act as an immune system primer -- but it could soon be routinely given to kidney cancer patients after operations.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3502297.stm

 

 

 

The UK's Ministry of Defence biological research facility at Porton Down has developed a vaccine against the Black Death (bubonic plague), one of the deadliest agents that could conceivably be used by terrorists.

 

The project has been underway since 1991, and the vaccine could be licensed within 2 years.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3502361.stm

 

 

 

An experimental vaccine monikered GVAX has wiped out or slowed lung cancer in a small but important study of 43 people suffering from non-small cell cancer, the most common form of lung cancer.

 

The vaccine is years away from approval, and seems to be fairly ineffective in early stage cancer. However it has shown convincing effects on halting the spread of advanced conditions.

 

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_868119.html?menu=news