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March 27, 2002

"Science Briefs: Vaccine Fights Prostate Cancer"

Boston Globe (www.boston.com/globe) (03/26/02) P. B10; Reucroft, Stephen; Swain, John

The first clinical trials of a new prostate cancer vaccine appears to be working, according to Johannes Vieweg and associates at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.  The vaccine was developed from dendritic cells that were exposed to genes that code for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is a protein present in elevated levels in men with prostate cancer. The premise is that the dendritic cells, when presented with PSA, will spur T-cell activity to fight the cancer.  Tests have been successful in six of seven patients, and although the sampling is small, the researchers are optimistic of its promising results not only for prostate cancer but possibly for other cancers as well.

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