"Many patients
with advanced cancers don't have enough functioning immune cells to
be harvested to make a vaccine, but our protein can be made in unlimited
amounts to work with the immune cells patients do have. ... a potentially
much less expensive approach to making a therapeutic cancer vaccine
...." Jeffrey Gelfand, MD, senior scientist at the MGH Vaccine
and Immunotherapy Center.
What does a protein derived from tuberculosis bacteria have to do
with mesothelioma? The researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital
engineered a combination of a protein which is programmed to target
an antibody that targets mesothlin and TB bacteria derived protein.
The effect is activation of immune cells that target the tumor cells
inside the patient's body. Preliminary trials in mouse models showed
that the protein significantly slowed tumor growth and extended survival.
This approach has a potential in treating ovarian cancer and pancreatic
cancer. The Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded the team a 2-year
grant to continue research.
To learn the current treatment options for mesothelioma, click here
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