Posted on 12/10/2015 5:20:30 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Pretty big news comes from the island nation known for the quality of its cigars.This news is already making big noise in the western medical world. Xinhua reports that Cuban medical authorities have released the first therapeutic vaccine for lung cancer. In Cuba, 20,000 people die each year of lung cancer.It is the leading cause of death in 12 of the 15 Cuban provinces.
CimaVax-EGF is the result of a 25-year research project at Havana's Center for Molecular Immunology, and it could make a life or death difference for those facing late-stage lung cancers, researchers there say.
CimaVax-EGF isn't a vaccine in the preventative sense-that is, it doesn't prevent lung cancer from taking hold in new patients. It's based on a protein related to uncontrolled cell proliferation-that is, it doesn't prevent cancer from existing in the first place but attacks the mechanism by which it does harm.
As such it can turn aggressive later-stage lung cancer into a manageable chronic disease by creating antibodies that do battle with the proteins that cause uncontrolled cell proliferation, researchers say. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are still recommended as a primary means of destroying cancerous tissue, but for those showing no improvement the new vaccine could be a literal lifesaver.
The vaccine has already been tested in 1,000 patients in Cuba and is being distributed at hospitals there free of charge. That's a big deal for a country where smoking is part of the national culture and a leading cause of death. If it proves as successful as researchers say it is, it should give those suffering from lung cancer reason to celebrate.
ping
Don’t inhale cigars, and get your shots.
This will sell more Cuban cigars.
the article says it is a treatment for after you get lung cancer. the vaccine does not prevent cancer it fights the deadly effects of the cancer turning it into a chronic but treatable problem rather then on that kills.
You didn’t read it.
“As such it can turn aggressive later-stage lung cancer into a manageable chronic disease by creating antibodies that do battle with the proteins that cause uncontrolled cell proliferation, researchers say”
Technically, a vaccine “teaches” B-cells to make antibodies, regardless of whether those antibodies protect against disease or not. Antibodies recognize proteins by their shape and electric charge and then attach to them. When antibodies attach to a protein, they signal other components of the immune system to act; in this case, the other components of the immune system would attack the cancer cells, since those are where the antibodies attach.
Although this approach could work in theory, I am highly suspicious of the claim. Cuba is not exactly a research powerhouse, and I doubt it has the resources to adequately test such a drug. Also, since antibody therapies can cause quite a few unintended side effects through their effect on the immune system, I would be wary about running off to Cuba to take this treatment.
Would be great news if Cuba would develop a vaccine against diabetes. Diabetes is the cause of so many other diseases.
Its those damn cigars they smoke.
Because they speak better Spanish.
“Communist propaganda?”
Hype and exaggeration.
Yeah, but it gives you colon cancer.
“I smell a scam to promote their cigar sales.”
I smell a scam to get desperate, rich Americanos to spend their dollars in Cuba.
There are already immunotherapies (drugs that cause the immune system to recognize cancer as a threat and attack it) approved for use against lung cancer in the US. I’ve seen commercials on TV advertising one of them. I’m pretty sure they run during NFL games on Sunday. Immunotherapy in general is a very promising new form of cancer treatment that is coming along quickly. I doubt the Cubans ‘invented’ the treatments they are touting. M ost likely they ‘acquired’ the technology from the US or Europe and are running with it.
CUBA - Free and Excellent Medical Care for All!!
I woke up have a split cheek sewn back together.
The “Free Medical Care” cost $125 but they wouldn’t take American Express.
I was attempting to be humorous. You are probably right.
Well, you know what they say about a broken clock.....
The North Koreans landed a man on the Sun!
Thanks, I had always assumed the term ‘vaccine’ implied a strictly preventative application rather than treatment.
In the US it would have been $5,000. I hope the commies did a good job and didn’t leave a nasty scar.
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