A WONDER vaccine for prostate cancer has been created by Irish scientists but it will be years before it can be used, researchers said yesterday.
The breakthrough by scientists at University College Cork offers real hope in the battle against one of the biggest killer diseases in this country.
The vaccine enables a person's immune system to attack cancer cells directly and researchers are now in discussions with clinicians to bring the vaccine to human trials.
However, the project is halfway through a process that is estimated to take up to 15 years.
About 1,900 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland each year. It is the second most common form of cancer diagnosed in men and up to 900 sufferers die of the disease each year.
replica balenciaga handbags Incidence and death rates for prostate cancer are higher in Ireland than in the UK.
The Cork Cancer Research Centre at UCC has been working on approaches that try to stimulate the ability of the immune system to Loewe Replica recognise and destroy cancer cells via selective killing mechanisms. Dr Mark Tangney, who is principal investigator on the research, said: "We have also shown that immune activation with DNA vaccines is safe.
"We are excited about the promise of this treatment strategy as the DNA vaccination strategy has the potential to be applied in clinical settings in combination with other available therapeutic options."
The vaccine is meant to complement existing treatments which involve surgical removal of a tumour and radiotherapy.
While localised prostate cancer can usually be treated successfully with surgery and radiotherapy, treatment is limited if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
Dr Tangney said that after treatment, and usually surgery, the new vaccines work by seeking out and destroying secondary cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body.
And he added that it could be possible to create vaccines for other forms of cancer in the future.
Using DNA in vaccines enables the immune system to get a fix on the cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
Replica Piaget Watches The research was published yesterday in the international journal Genetic Vaccines and Therapy.
1,900 IRISH MEN ARE DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER EVERY YEAR
900 MEN DIE FROM THE DISEASE IN IRELAND EVERY YEAR
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