Cancer Prevention from Immunization

Cancer occurs as a result of a mutation in a cell that then multiplies and spreads to various parts of the body. Research is continuing on cancer prevention from immunization to develop vaccines that prevent cancer from occurring. Such vaccines help the body develop immunity to various cancers. Vaccines of this type are difficult to develop because some cancers weaken the immune system responses or escape detection by the immune system. Still, two vaccines that prevent cancer are currently in use, and research is underway on the development of many more.

Vaccine for preventing HPV

Gardasil and Cervarix are vaccines that are approved by the FDA to provide protection for females from Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, which is the cause of the majority of cases of cervical cancer. HPV also causes some vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers. The Gardasil vaccine also protects males and females from genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. The Gardasil vaccine is approved for administration to females and males between the ages of 9 and 26. The Cervarix vaccine is approved for use in females between the ages of 10 and 25 for the prevention of cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18.

Vaccine for preventing hepatitis B

A vaccine is also to protect people from developing hepatitis B, an infectious disease that sometimes leads to liver cancer. Available since 1981, this vaccine is routinely administered to infants.

Anti-cancer vaccines under development

Researchers are currently developing or testing a number of vaccines to actually treat a variety of types of cancer. These vaccines are administered after cancer is detected. Vaccines currently under development include vaccines for treating bladder cancer, brain tumors, breast cancer, cervical cancer, Hodgkins lymphoma, kidney cancer, melanoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, lung cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and solid tumors.

The prospect of developing vaccines that prevent cancer is exciting. More research continues in this area, and the day draws closer when we no longer not have to worry about developing cancer because that deadly disease has been eradicated by vaccines.