Breakthrough technology prevents metastatic cancer

Doctors in the United Kingdom conduct a new injection of a vaccine that allows the immune system to attack cancer cells and prevent them from spreading throughout the body.

Kelly Potter, 35, of Beckenham, Kent, England, was one of the first two patients to test the new vaccine, combined with chemotherapy. Potter was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer in July 2015, meaning the cancer had spread to other parts of the body.

"It spreads into small spots in my liver and lungs. When I knew I could take part in the trial, I was very happy , " the International Business Times quoted Potter on Tuesday. Potter received his first injection on February 9 and proved very optimistic about the experiment.

New cancer vaccine helps the immune system attack cancer cells.(Photo: iStock).

The trial called Vaper included 8 injections over two years. Each injection contains a protein from reverse transcription telomerase enzyme (hTERT) . Cancer cells rely on this protein to divide and spread to other parts of the body. The team hopes that the cancer patient's immune system will fight this protein.

"We understand that the immune system in patients with terminal cancer is blocked and cannot recognize and destroy cancer cells. In this trial, we are investigating a form of immunotherapies. Designed to activate the body's immune system by using protein-derived vaccines , " said Hardev Pandha, a scientist at Surrey Cancer Research Institute.

This treatment is performed in combination with small doses of chemotherapy to attack tumors and the team expects to prevent cancer cells from spreading throughout the body.

"The uniqueness of this approach is to use additional agents to enhance the response to vaccines. The treatment will eliminate the inhibitory effect on immune cells in the patient's circulation, increasing The effectiveness of cancer vaccines , " said James Spicer, head of the experimental project at the Biomedical Research Center.