2009 Press Releases
New vaccine to transform cancer and flu treatment in elderly
03.09.2009
Although billions are spent on vaccinating the elderly against the flu, recent studies have shown that there is no survival advantage because of changes in the immune response with aging.
03.09.2009
Although billions are spent on vaccinating the elderly against the flu, recent studies have shown that there is no survival advantage because of changes in the immune response with aging.
Similarly, the response to cancer vaccines for the most common malignancies (epithelial neoplasms), the leading cause of cancer death in the US and Ireland is limited because of functional defects in the immune system acquired over time.
A US researcher, who has found a new way of overcoming the poor response of people over 55 to vaccines, will present his findings at a conference organized by the Cork Cancer Research Centre in UCC this week. His research will have major implications for cancer treatment, swine flu vaccinations and vaccinations for other infectious diseases.
Professor Albert Deisseroth of the US Food and Drug Administration and former president of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Centre has found that one of the reasons for the diminished response in individuals over 55 is the decreased communication within the immune system. This results in a poor response to infections and vaccinations. One way to overcome this functional defect in the older age groups, would be to administer the missing immune protein (CD40L signal protein) at the time of vaccination. Professor Deisseroth and his co-workers have been able to do this by producing a vaccine that fuses the DNA of the missing protein with the disease target at which the vaccine is aimed, be it cancer cells or infectious viruses. The new vaccine (TAA/ecdCD40L) overcame the defective response in older test subjects, prevented development of tumour formation and growth and stimulated an immune response to influenza viral antigens.
Professor Deisseroth will present his results with the vaccine at the annual meeting of The International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy of Cancer in UCC. He will summarize efforts underway to apply the vaccine strategy to cancer as well as to the development of a swine influenza vaccination which will be safer, more potent and easier to produce than current strategies to produce vaccines for the swine flu and other flu viruses.
The National Cancer Registry of Ireland has predicted a 90% increase in cancer cases from 2005 to 2020 with about two-thirds of this increase expected in the growing numbers of elderly people. Professor Deisserothâ•’s findings will have tremendous implications for the future of cancer treatment in Ireland and worldwide.
Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC), based in UCC, is hosting a three day international conference on the cell and gene therapy of cancer. The CCRC is the only centre in Ireland currently doing research using gene and immunogene therapy strategies to treat cancer.
As part of the conference, Cork Cancer Research Centre is offering a free public evening where international experts such as Professor Deisseroth will present the most up-to-date strategies and clinical trials available to treat cancer. The public evening will take on Thursday, September 3rd, at 6:30 pm in the Lifetime Lab, Lee Road Cork. Further information is available from the Cork Cancer Research Centre on 021-4636612.
RMcD
A US researcher, who has found a new way of overcoming the poor response of people over 55 to vaccines, will present his findings at a conference organized by the Cork Cancer Research Centre in UCC this week. His research will have major implications for cancer treatment, swine flu vaccinations and vaccinations for other infectious diseases.
Professor Albert Deisseroth of the US Food and Drug Administration and former president of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Centre has found that one of the reasons for the diminished response in individuals over 55 is the decreased communication within the immune system. This results in a poor response to infections and vaccinations. One way to overcome this functional defect in the older age groups, would be to administer the missing immune protein (CD40L signal protein) at the time of vaccination. Professor Deisseroth and his co-workers have been able to do this by producing a vaccine that fuses the DNA of the missing protein with the disease target at which the vaccine is aimed, be it cancer cells or infectious viruses. The new vaccine (TAA/ecdCD40L) overcame the defective response in older test subjects, prevented development of tumour formation and growth and stimulated an immune response to influenza viral antigens.
Professor Deisseroth will present his results with the vaccine at the annual meeting of The International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy of Cancer in UCC. He will summarize efforts underway to apply the vaccine strategy to cancer as well as to the development of a swine influenza vaccination which will be safer, more potent and easier to produce than current strategies to produce vaccines for the swine flu and other flu viruses.
The National Cancer Registry of Ireland has predicted a 90% increase in cancer cases from 2005 to 2020 with about two-thirds of this increase expected in the growing numbers of elderly people. Professor Deisserothâ•’s findings will have tremendous implications for the future of cancer treatment in Ireland and worldwide.
Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC), based in UCC, is hosting a three day international conference on the cell and gene therapy of cancer. The CCRC is the only centre in Ireland currently doing research using gene and immunogene therapy strategies to treat cancer.
As part of the conference, Cork Cancer Research Centre is offering a free public evening where international experts such as Professor Deisseroth will present the most up-to-date strategies and clinical trials available to treat cancer. The public evening will take on Thursday, September 3rd, at 6:30 pm in the Lifetime Lab, Lee Road Cork. Further information is available from the Cork Cancer Research Centre on 021-4636612.
RMcD