Researchers are advancing vaccines aimed at training healthy immune systems to combat cancer before it manifests. Currently in early trials, these vaccines target individuals with inherited genetic mutations that elevate their cancer risk. Other formulations focus on eliminating precancerous lesions to prevent disease progression.
After years of stagnation, recent technological advancements and deeper insights into the immune system have revitalized cancer vaccine development. Companies like Moderna are at the forefront, creating vaccines designed to treat existing cancers or prevent their recurrence.
Some vaccines utilize protein fragments, while others employ mRNA and DNA technologies, sending genetic material that instructs the body to produce specific target proteins. This approach aims to elicit an immune response against these proteins.
However, skepticism remains regarding the feasibility of a universal cancer vaccine. Cancer encompasses numerous distinct diseases, and various causes can lead to different types of cancer.
In other medical advancements, new research presented at UEG Week 2024 introduces a treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes (T2D) that may significantly reduce or eliminate the need for insulin therapy. This method combines a procedure called ReCET (Re-Cellularization via Electroporation Therapy) with the medication semaglutide, leading to insulin independence for 86% of participants in a small study.
The study involved 14 participants aged 28 to 75, all of whom underwent the ReCET procedure while under deep sedation. Following the procedure, they followed a two-week isocaloric liquid diet before gradually increasing semaglutide to 1mg per week. Remarkably, at 6 and 12 months post-treatment, 86% of participants no longer required insulin, with continued success noted at the 24-month mark. All maintained glycemic control, with HbA1c levels below 7.5%.
Most participants tolerated the maximum semaglutide dose well, with only one experiencing nausea that prevented dose escalation. The ReCET procedure was completed successfully by all, with no serious adverse effects reported.
Dr. Celine Busch, the study's lead author, emphasized that ReCET addresses patient adherence issues by eliminating the need for daily medication. This treatment modifies the disease by enhancing the body’s sensitivity to its own insulin, targeting the root cause of T2D rather than merely controlling symptoms. Future larger randomized trials are planned to validate these promising results.