Four adult patients with glioblastoma, the most aggressive and deadly brain tumor, were able to live up to 50% longer than expected thanks to… Experimental mRNA vaccine It was developed at the University of Florida in the United States.
This is the first clinical trial on humans for this vaccine, which is responsible for reprogramming the immune system to attack The most common malignant tumor of the brainwith an average survival of about 15 months and is usually treated with surgery, radiation, and some combination of chemotherapy.
Despite the interesting data published on Wednesday in magazine cellthe tests have been conducted on terminally ill patients and are just the beginning of a period Further tests on humans Which will start from now on.
Within the framework of the same study, it was also investigated how Dozens of dogs With terminal brain cancer and no other treatment available, they lived an average of 139 days, compared to an average survival of 30 to 60 days typical of dogs with the disease.
This breakthrough, which had previously been tested on mice, will now be tested on mice Clinical trials for children The first stage of brain cancer.
Peculiarities of the method
For researchers to discover It opens the door to a new way It makes the immune system significantly fight treatment-resistant cancers.
To achieve this, scientists use a technological systemmRNA and lipid nanoparticlessimilar to COVID-19 vaccines, but with two key differences: using a patient's own cancer cells to create a personalized vaccine, and injecting groups of molecules, rather than individual molecules.
the vaccine It was personal For each patient with the goal of making the most of their unique immune system.
Patients had genetic material called RNA extracted from the tumor that was surgically removed, and then… Messenger RNA was amplified and packaged (A diagram of what is inside each cell) to stimulate the immune system response.
According to the study's authors, the new method, which is administered intravenously, has not only been shown to be able to “educate” the immune system to detect the tumor, but Stimulating a “rapid” response.in less than 48 hours.
Next steps
The new publication comes after seven years of studies, starting with preclinical mouse models, then in a clinical trial of 10 pet dogs that spontaneously developed terminal brain cancer and had no other treatment options.
Now, the test conducted on four people will work to ensure the safety and feasibility of the test Before expanding to a larger experience.
The next step will be an expanded phase 1 clinical trial to include up to 24 adult and pediatric patients to validate the results. Once the ideal and safe dose is confirmed, it is estimated that… 25 children will participate in the second stage.
Despite the promising results, the authors acknowledge that continued uncertainty about how best to harness the immune system while minimizing the potential for harmful side effects remains an obstacle to progress.
“Infuriatingly humble social media buff. Twitter advocate. Writer. Internet nerd.”
