Vaccine pioneer targets skin cancer
Vaccine pioneer targets skin cancer
2008-11-18Newsfeed
A scientist involved in the development of a vaccine for cervical cancer says a jab to protect against certain types of skin cancer could be available in five years time.
A scientist involved in the development of a vaccine for cervical cancer says a jab to protect against certain types of skin cancer could be available in five years time.
Professor Ian Frazer, from the University of Queensland, Australia, said animal tests had given positive results. He believes human trials could begin next year and a vaccine for children aged 10 to 12 may be available in five to 10 years.
The vaccine targets the second most common skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, by singling out papillomavirus, a common infection that can turn abnormal cells into cancerous cells and is thought to cause at least 5% of all cancers.
Prof Frazer was part of the team that developed the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, which is now used in inoculation programmes around the world.
Prof Frazer said: "What we've learnt together, through the study of animal models, is that the skin has natural defences which switch off killer T cells. We've also found a number of ways to overcome these blocks and let the immune system work.
"We now want to test vaccines based on this knowledge in clinical trials, to find out whether we can develop vaccines that could be used to treat people at risk of skin cancer."
Copyright © Press Association 2008
