Cancer is being defeated little by little
Great news is coming from laboratories tirelessly researching a cure for cancer. Pharmaceutical companies have taken giant steps by developing so-called messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines against this terrible disease. And according to experts, this new biomedicine technology has enormous healing potential.
TL;DR
- mRNA vaccines are a new frontier in cancer therapy, personalizing treatment by encoding patient tumor proteins.
- Trials combining mRNA vaccines with immunotherapy show excellent results for melanoma, lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
- The technology, similar to COVID-19 vaccines, trains the immune system to identify and fight cancer cells (neoantigens).
- mRNA vaccines aim to 'heat up' cold tumors, making them detectable and treatable by the immune system, and preventing relapses.
- A study in Nature showed 10 out of 14 triple-negative breast cancer patients receiving the vaccine remained disease-free for over five years.
- While promising, extensive studies with more patients are needed before widespread implementation.
- In Colombia, cancer is a major cause of mortality, with an estimated 60,000-80,000 cases and 31,000-40,000 deaths annually.
- Global collaboration, investment, and innovation are vital for advancing and distributing these therapies.
- Prevention through healthy habits (diet, exercise, avoiding tobacco/alcohol, sun protection) can prevent 30-50% of cancers.