BUFFALO, N. Y. (WIVB) -- One of the hottest areas of research in fighting cancer is vaccines and how they are helping the body recognize malignant cells and destroy them, without the toxicity of other treatments.
There's a new study beginning which has created a vaccine from an existing drug.
Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute have created a vaccine designed to kill cancer cells in the body, and prevent them from coming back.
Dr. Kunle Odunsi an oncologist at Roswell says, "We are launching a new clinical trial that will harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer."
The vaccine, produced in a special chamber at Roswell that strictly controls temperature and atmospheric gases, will use a special protein that will 'recruit an army' of killer immune cells that seek out and destroy cancer.
What is truly remarkable about this discovery is that the vaccine is designed to train the body's defenses to never forget how to kill cancer cells."
Roswell Park Immunologist Dr. Protul Shrikant discovered that a drug called rapamycin, used for many years to prevent rejection of organ transplants. It also produces immune cells that, in a sense, have "memory," always remembering that cancer cells are bad, and should be attacked and killed. Dr. Shirkant says the discovery was quite accidental.
"It is kind of serendipitous because we just tested this concept that came from nowhere in a laboratory setting, and it did work. It's hard to imagine."
Eighteen to twenty patients, fighting many different forms of cancer, will be chosen for the first phase of clinical trials.
Nancy Holiman, has fought three types of cancer, most recently breast cancer, and hopes she will be among them.
"To know that you have something in your system and have this memory and be there long term, I think would just give you, just another - help you with your peace of mind," Nancy says.
If the first phase of clinical trials is successful, larger studies with more people at various medical centers are next. We'll keep you posted on the progress.