According to an international team of scientists , they have a new approach in developing cancer vaccine which can be used to treat prostate tumors.

DNA from healthy cells was used to arrive in creating such vaccine which already cured 80% of mice – their test subject.

Such principle may soon be used in treating other kinds of cancers. It is a significant development but human trials are still needed.

How does this vaccine works?

The vaccine works by making the immune system attack tumours already in the body; it targets markers on the surface of cancerous cells, known as antigens.

A challenge

“The biggest challenge in immunology is developing antigens that can target the tumour without causing harm elsewhere.”

The process of creating the vaccine

Researchers in Leeds and at the Mayo Clinic (in US) broke up chunks of DNA from healthy prostate cells and inserted them into a virus.

Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician, said: “This is an interesting and significant study which could really broaden out the field of immunotherapy research.”