For men in the final stages of prostate cancer, there are often few treatment options available. But a vaccine that uses human DNA to boost the body’s own cancer-fighting capabilities could be available to them in the near future, say experts.
The treatment is the first prostate cancer vaccine to reach late-stage trials in Europe, which involves testing on human volunteers. If successful, the vaccine could be available as early as 2015.
The vaccine uses viruses to carry the DNA into the body’s cells, which triggers the immune system to destroy cells that are cancerous. It is not, however, a vaccine against the development of prostate cancer.
Currently 36,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK. It is the most common cancer among men and mostly affects those who are aged 50 and over.
Date to remember: September 2012 'BLUE SEPTEMBER'.
Blue September is a nationwide event that aims to raise awareness of cancers that affect men – not just prostate and testicular cancer, but also bowel, lung, liver and other cancers – and to raise funds for the Men’s health Forum charity. For more information, visit www.blueseptember.org.uk
