Scientists Closer to Production of Targeted Vaccine for Cancer

Scientists seem to be closer to producing a specific targeted vaccine for killing cancer cells. Researchers from United Kingdom have pinpointed a protein on immunecells which may harness the body’s defence system to attack a tumour. The research has been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. According to scientiststhe protein is unique to a type of immune cells called a dendrite cell which is mainly responsible for triggering the body’s defence system. It may be noted that in theorya vaccine carrying foreign molecule could be targeted to the dendrite cells which would then prompt the immune system to attack the invading cancer. The same approachcan be used for treating HIV malaria. The protein which has been pinpointed by the scientists presents pathogen or foreign molecules to other cells of the immune systemwhich in turn eliminate them.