We have taken a big step forward on the road to curing cancer.
This time, the protagonist is the cancer vaccine.
The NHS is embarking on a massive programme to recruit thousands of cancer patients across the country and match them for rapid inclusion in clinical trials of cancer vaccines.
This is the first of its kind in the world.
With its strong specificity, cancer vaccines precisely target cancer cells without harming the "innocent";
It also allows the patient's immune system to remember the characteristics of the cancer cells, which is expected to provide patients with long-lasting protection against cancer recurrence.
This is a "milestone moment" for patients.
So, what does this new cancer vaccine look like?
UK launches Personalised Cancer Vaccine Trial Programme.
The National Health Service (NHS) has launched a groundbreaking clinical study of a personalised cancer vaccine designed to be tailored to each patient.
The vaccine, which takes only a few weeks to prepare, directs the patient's own immune system to seek out and kill cancer cells.
Patients who meet the screening criteria and agree to undergo blood tests and analysis of cancer tissue samples will have the opportunity to participate in this first-of-its-kind program immediately, which has given many patients a glimmer of hope for cancer treatment.
So, how does this "subversive" cancer vaccine achieve "no epidemic"?
Oncology Personalized Vaccine Trial Program.
The NHS has already recruited dozens of patients to participate in the Cancer Vaccine Start-up Programme, with thousands more planned to be recruited at 30 NHS sites across England.
The first patient trials will focus on colorectal, skin, lung, bladder, pancreatic and kidney cancers, with other types of cancer expanding in the future.
Ian Fox, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said it was "exciting" for patients to be able to access personalised vaccinations and that the development would be a "game-changer" in the fight against cancer.
"Clinical trials like this are essential to help more people live longer, live better, and get rid of the fear of cancer," he stressed.
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The first NHS patient to join the cancer vaccine research programme is named Elliot Pfebve.
The 55-year-old Coventry University lecturer has always been in great health but was diagnosed with colorectal cancer during a routine health check-up with a GP.
To do this, he underwent surgery to remove the tumor, removing 30 centimeters of the large intestine, and underwent chemotherapy.
Subsequently, he received this personalised cancer vaccine at the University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS Foundation.
"Participating in this trial was a very important decision in my life, both for me and my family.
Pfebve said.
"It feels great to be part of a trial that could lead to a new cancer treatment after a difficult diagnosis and debilitating chemotherapy, and it would be even better if others could also benefit from the findings of the trial.
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An interesting point is that the vaccine is designed using the same mRNA technology as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Among the cutting-edge directions of vaccine research and development today, DNA vaccines and RNA technology have attracted much attention due to their special advantages.
DNA technology triggers an immune response by introducing DNA sequences encoding specific tumor antigens into the host cell, allowing the cells to express these antigens.
Its high stability, convenience of large-scale production, and ability to encode a variety of antigens provide a new avenue for tumor immunotherapy.
However, the delivery efficiency and expression level of DNA technology still need to be improved.
RNA technology uses mRNA molecules to be directly translated into antigenic proteins in vivo, thereby efficiently inducing immune responses.
The fact that RNA technology does not need to enter the nucleus also gives it high expression efficiency, and the production process is simple and fast, especially suitable for diseases such as tumors with rapidly changing mutation profiles.
However, RNA technology is less stable and requires the help of vectors for protection and delivery.
So what are the advantages of RNA technology over DNA technology for us?
Is RNA technology superior to DNA technology?
DNA and RNA are both nucleic acid molecules that make up the genetic material of living organisms, and they have important commonalities and significant differences.
The DNA molecule is made up of deoxynucleotides and lacks an oxygen atom in its construction.
RNA molecules, on the other hand, are made up of nucleotides with an extra oxygen atom present in their construction.
This seemingly small difference creates a huge difference in the roles and functions of DNA and RNA molecules in living organisms.
DNA is a carrier molecule that stores and transmits genetic information in the cytoplasm of living organisms and plays a key role in the process of cell mitosis and reproduction.
It determines the morphological structure and characteristics of organisms through genetic composition and regulation, and is passed on to future generations.
RNA is a direct transcription of the DNA blueprint and is responsible for the conversion of genetic information into protein molecules within the cell to control all biochemical processes in living organisms.
For these reasons and differences, RNA technology is increasingly being used in life sciences and medicine as scientists continue to explore and discover.
1. Efficient transcription and expression
In the field of traditional genetic engineering, scientists usually use plasmid vectors to introduce exogenous genes into host cells, and realize the expression of exogenous genes in host cells by regulating promoters, messenger RNAs, terminators and other elements.
In contrast, there is no need to consider genome integration or the selection of appropriate promoters in RNA technology.
Simply provide the amino acid sequence information needed to encode the protein of interest directly into the host cell.
Not only does it simplify the workflow, but it also enables more efficient transcription and expression of the protein of interest.
2. Stable and controllable
mRNA molecules have high transcription efficiency and can be rapidly translated into proteins.
However, due to the low stability of mRNA molecules, they tend to be rapidly degraded and lose function within cells.
To address this issue, polyAdenyl tails are often used in RNA technology to enhance mRNA stability.
In addition, the expression and stability of mRNA can be precisely regulated by regulating the mRNA transcription rate, selecting different types of mRNA, and intervening in post-transcriptional modification.
3. Widely used
As an efficient, controllable and easy-to-operate biological tool, with the continuous efforts of scientists,
RNA technology has been widely used in a number of fields:
a. Scientists synthesize or modify mRNA molecules to precisely modify and regulate genetic information.
b. In the field of drug development,
Scientists are using mRNA technology to develop novel therapeutics to combat a variety of human diseases.
For example, mRNA technology is used to develop new anti-infective drugs to deal with emerging drug-resistant strains.
c. In the field of agriculture,
Scientists are using mRNA technology to develop new pest-resistant crop varieties to improve crop yield and quality.
d. In the field of environmental protection,
Scientists are using mRNA technology to develop novel pollutant degradation methods to improve environmental quality.
4. Respond to rapid changes in the mutation spectrum
Tumor is a complex system with a high degree of mutation spectrum and rapid changes.
Especially more prominent in advanced tumors,
This poses a huge challenge to cancer treatment.
Traditional treatments are often unable to adjust quickly with tumor variations.
As a result, its cure rate is greatly reduced.
Compared with traditional treatments,
Personalized treatment for tumors is more targeted.
The treatment plan can be designed and adjusted according to the specific situation of the patient.
This improves cure rates and survival.
In recent years, with the rapid development of next-generation sequencing technology and the field of bioinformatics,
Scientists can more accurately identify tumor mutation profiles,
And design a personalized treatment plan according to the specific situation of the patient,
For example, specific immune cell therapy (CAR-T) or the design of targeted drugs for specific mutation sites.
In addition, with the continuous emergence of cutting-edge biomedical technologies,
Novel tumor immunotherapy methods such as synthetic growth peptide (SLP) are gradually entering the stage of clinical application.
These new technologies and methods are expected to provide more possibilities for tumor cure.
epilogue
With the continuous progress of science and technology,
We believe that through unremitting efforts,
Mankind will eventually defeat the demon of cancer,
Realize the beautiful vision of "once vaccinated, never again in a lifetime".