Researchers at UCC have successfully developed DNA vaccines that can target prostate cancer, it was revealed today.
Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Centre at UCC have been working on DNA vaccines to activate the immune system against the cancer, and their successful work in the laboratory will now proceed to human clinical trials.
The research is published today in the international journal Genetic Vaccines and Therapy.
“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,” says Dr Mark Tangney, principal investigator of the research.
Localised prostate cancers are currently treated successfully with surgery and radiotherapy, but there are limited options for cures in secondary/metastatic prostate cancer.
According to the Cork researchers, the merit of the DNA vaccines is that, after treatment - usually surgery - they seek out any remaining cancerous cells that may have migrated to other parts of the body and destroy them.
“To date, we have successfully developed prostate cancer specific vaccines, optimised vaccination doses, schedules and method of delivery at pre-clinical stage,” says Dr Tangney. “We have also shown that immune activation with DNA vaccines is safe."
Ireland has a higher incidence and death rate for prostate cancer than the UK, which continues to grow due to our ageing male population.
In Ireland, approximately 1,900 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year and 700 patients die of the disease per year. A 275 per cent increase in prostate cancer numbers is expected in Ireland between 2000 and 2020 due to the ageing of the population according to the National Cancer Registry of Ireland.