Study shows new mesothelioma vaccine is safe, effective

Scientists in The Netherlands have developed a new mesothelioma vaccine that research has shown is safe for use in humans. The new vaccine may eventually prove to be a vital tool in extending the lifespan of patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma—and possibly even curing the disease.

According to a February 2010 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine by the American Thoracic Society, the new vaccine relies on immunotherapy techniques, which utilize a patient’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Scientists in the study cultured immune cells from 10 patients who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma and exposed them to chemicals produced by their own tumor. The treated immune cells were then injected back into the patients’ bodies in a three-dose regimen.

Researchers found that seven of the 10 patients showed signs of cytotoxicity or tumor regression—clear evidence of the vaccines potential for treating mesothelioma symptoms. Just as important, none of the patients showed signs of autoimmune disease or other serious side effects, a sign that the vaccine may be safe for wider use among mesothelioma patients.

Dr. Joachim Aerts—the lead author of the study—wrote that researchers are optimistic about the potential of the vaccine for extending the lives mesothelioma patients and for the broader treatment potential of the new therapy:

We hope that by further development of our method it will be possible to increase survival in patients with mesothelioma and eventually vaccinate persons who have been in contact with asbestos to prevent them from getting asbestos related diseases.

The average patient survives for only 12 months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Even with chemotherapy, patients only survive for an average of three additional months. Although this new vaccine still has a long way to go before achieving its full treatment potential, scientific confirmation of its safety and effectiveness at treating mesothelioma is an important step in the race for a cure to this deadly disease.

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