FDA officially approved the cancer vaccine

Cancer vaccines by using the patient's own immune system to fight a disease approved by the federal government, which can replace traditional treatments such as chemotherapy.

Dendreon's Provenge vaccine has 'trained' the immune system to fight malignant tumors.

Doctors have tried to develop this therapy for decades and Provenge is the first FDA-approved vaccine. It is called a vaccine even though it treats the disease rather than prevents it.

Vaccines that treat other types of cancer, including melanoma and embryonic neuromas, are continuing to be tested.

Current conventional cancer treatment is to remove the tumor, attack them with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Meanwhile, Provenge helps improve the immune barrier against disease. The trial showed that taking Provenge for 4 months, the chances of men living with prostate cancer increased.

Doctors will pick up special blood cells in each patient's body that help the immune system recognize cancer as a threat. These cells were mixed with a protein found in most cancer cells and another material to boost the immune system's fighting power. This created 'vaccine' is returned to the patient with 3 infusions in 2 weeks.

At first, Dendreon intended to test the drug in about 50 health centers, but researchers said it could only provide vaccines to a few patients each month.

The side effects of Provenge are relatively like chills, fatigue, fever and headache. Compared to the side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss, nausea, anemia and diarrhea is quite gentle.

Source: AP