PROSTVAC, a Therapeutic Vaccine for Treating Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer of males in the U.S., and is responsible for more deaths than any other cancer, except lung cancer. Cancer vaccines, which harness the body’s immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells, have emerged as a promising new approach to fighting prostate cancer. One approach to cancer vaccination involves identifying antigens from cancer cells and immunizing cancer patients against those antigens to stimulate the body’s immune cells to attack and kill the cancer cells. 

Development of First Immunotherapy to Treat Chordoma, a Rare Bone Cancer

Cancer vaccines harness the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells, and are a promising new approach to fighting cancer. In contrast to preventative vaccines, cancer vaccines identify antigens from cancer cells and immunize cancer patients against those antigens to stimulate the body’s immune cells to attack and kill the cancer cells. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has developed investigational cancer vaccines that induct a specific, targeted immune response against cancer cells expressing the brachyury protein.

Development of First Immunotherapy to Treat Chordoma

Cancer vaccines harness the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells, and are a promising new approach to fighting cancer. In contrast to preventative vaccines, cancer vaccines identify antigens from cancer cells and immunize cancer patients against those antigens to stimulate the body’s immune cells to attack and kill the cancer cells. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has developed investigational cancer vaccines that induce a specific, targeted immune response against cancer cells expressing the brachyury protein.