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Cuba Announces Release of the World's First Lung Cancer Vaccine
Key Excerpts from Article on Website of Popular Science Magazine
Posted: September 20th, 2011
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-09/cuba-releases-...
From the island nation known for the quality of its cigars comes some pretty big news today: Cuban medical authorities have released the first therapeutic vaccine for lung cancer. CimaVax-EGF is the result of a 25-year research project at Havanas Center for Molecular Immunology, and it could make a life or death difference for those facing late-stage lung cancers. CimaVax-EGF isnt a vaccine in the preventative sense--that is, it doesnt prevent lung cancer from taking hold in new patients. Its based on a protein related to uncontrolled cell proliferation--that is, it doesnt prevent cancer from existing in the first place but attacks the mechanism by which it does harm. As such it can turn aggressive later-stage lung cancer into a manageable chronic disease by creating antibodies that do battle with the proteins that cause uncontrolled cell proliferation, researchers say. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are still recommended as a primary means of destroying cancerous tissue, but for those showing no improvement the new vaccine could be a literal lifesaver. The vaccine has already been tested in 1,000 patients in Cuba and is being distributed at hospitals there free of charge. Thats a big deal for a country where smoking is part of the national culture and a leading cause of death. If it proves as successful as researchers say it is, it should give those suffering from lung cancer reason to celebrate--just not with a Cohiba.
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