Russia has made a major announcement about a new cancer vaccine that could change the way cancer is treated. This vaccine, which is expected to be available to the public in early 2025, will be given for free to people in Russia. It’s an exciting development because this vaccine doesn’t just prevent cancer, but is designed to treat cancer in patients who already have it.

The vaccine works by using mRNA technology, similar to the one used in COVID-19 vaccines. However, this vaccine is personalized for each patient. It is made using parts of a patient’s own cancer tumor. This means the vaccine is tailored to attack the specific type of cancer in that person’s body. The goal is not just to prevent cancer from forming, but to help the body fight the cancer that’s already there.

According to Andrey Kaprin, the head of the Radiology Medical Research Centre in Russia, the vaccine will be quite expensive to produce, costing the state about 300,000 rubles (around 2,869 USD) for each dose. But despite the high cost, the Russian government plans to make it available for free to all Russian citizens starting in 2025.

The process of making this personalized vaccine is complex. It involves using advanced computing and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the cancer cells. Alexander Gintsburg, the director of the Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, explained that creating these vaccines takes time, but AI technology helps speed up the process.

They use AI to calculate the best way to tailor the vaccine for each person’s cancer. This process, which used to take longer, can now be completed in just about an hour with the help of AI.

The way this vaccine works is by teaching the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Cancer cells have unique proteins called antigens on their surface, which are different from normal cells. The vaccine contains these antigens, and when introduced into the body, it trains the immune system to recognize these proteins as harmful. This way, the immune system can produce antibodies that attack and destroy the cancer cells.

Cancer rates in Russia have been rising in recent years, with over 635,000 new cases reported in 2022. The most common types of cancer in Russia are colon, breast, and lung cancer. This new vaccine is part of a global effort to develop personalized treatments for cancer. Similar vaccines are also being tested in other countries, like the United States and the UK, showing promising results in early trials.

This breakthrough could be a game-changer in the fight against cancer, and it gives hope to many people who have been waiting for more effective treatments.

Via