Human vaccine destroys advanced prostate cancer in mice

A team of scientists has pioneered a novel cancer treatment that encourages the immune system to rid itself of prostate tumors without assistance from toxic chemotherapies and radiation treatments.

It is hoped that such a treatment model could some day help people to live tumor free with fewer side effects than those experienced from current therapies.

Mayo Clinic investigators and collaborators from the United Kingdom have cured well-established prostate tumors in mice using a human vaccine with no apparent side effects.

"We are hopeful that this will overcome some of the major hurdles which we have seen with immunotherapy cancer research," said Richard Vile, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic immunologist, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Professor and a lead author of the study. Clinical trials could begin within two years.

Mayo's immunotherapy research already shows promise in treating prostate cancer and melanoma. It also is a prime candidate for treatment of many more aggressive cancers, such as lung, brain and pancreatic cancer.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Medicine.