Vaccine to protect dogs and people from cancer

When did they start using them? mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 There has already been talk that this is a tool that can be talked about a lot in the future. In fact, many years ago, research began on the possibility of using mRNA to develop vaccines against a variety of diseases, including some non-infectious ones, such as cancer. The coronavirus opened a ban, and gradually we learned about progress in research on other drugs of this type, such as brain cancer vaccine which has just been presented by a group of scientists from University of Florida.

This is quite a special case because clinical trials were carried out. in both humans and dogs. These animals are the only non-humans that can develop brain cancer. Spontaneously. When these tumors are studied in the laboratory, they often arise in the brains of mice, but logically they are not the same thing. Therefore, this study has two positive aspects: a natural study of the development of the disease in animals and the possibility of treating our furry friends with a cancer vaccine.

Currently, the first phase of clinical trials has been conducted with a small number of participants: 4 people and 10 dogs. The results are not perfect, but very encouraging. Therefore, the study authors hope to move forward and improve their findings more and more.

mRNA tricks the immune system

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a molecule containing transcription of instructions contained in genes. This way, cells can read them and create the proteins needed for them to function properly.

COVID-19 vaccines use mRNA, which contains instructions for making a protein found in the coronavirus. Having received them, our own cells produce this protein, deceiving the immune system. interprets that an infection has occurred. In this way, a response and protective memory is generated, which is so necessary in the face of a future real infection.

On the other hand, the brain cancer vaccine that these scientists developed works in a completely different way. What they did was take mRNA from their own tumor cells to be treated. They then encapsulate them in a similar way to how viruses encapsulate their genetic material. With this costumethe immune system interprets that a viral infection has occurred and sends its defense battalion against the vaccine, as well as against the remaining tumor cells. This is very useful because by extracting RNA from the tumor, this brain cancer vaccine becomes completely personalized.

Vaccine against the most malignant brain cancer

This mRNA vaccine targets glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer that exists. Its survival rate in both dogs and humans is very low. Therefore, any improvement in this indicator will be considered a success. So it was.

As for dogs that usually live on average 30 to 60 days later diagnosis could be upgraded to 139 days. As for the people, they all stayed longer no illnesses or showed longer survival.

It is logical that with 4 participants it is impossible to throw bells into the air. Moreover, the ideal would be to further improve survival time or even extend the disease-free period so that the tumor does not even multiply.

There’s a lot of work ahead, but it looks like this coronavirus vaccine is here to stay. At least that’s what its creators hope. We hope this will help save many lives, both canine and human, in the future.