Published: Dec 01, 2011

Could a cancer vaccine be on the way?

One thing that patients, researchers and physicians can agree would be an incredible breakthrough is a vaccine that could protect against cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 12 million Americans have some form of this sometimes life-threatening disease. Developing a shot that could prevent or cure the condition with be ideal.

Recently, researchers from the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology at the National Cancer Institute reported that they have had positive results in their trial of a vaccine meant to combat both metastatic breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

"With this vaccine, we can clearly generate immune responses that lead to clinical responses in some patients," said lead researcher James Gulley, M.D., Ph.D.

However, the scientists noted that there is a need for more studies to be conducted to determine the full efficacy and side effects of the vaccine. Currently, the only side effect that researchers have noticed is mild inflammation at the injection site, which is a positive sign.

Finding cancer treatments that have mminimal adverse effects can be difficult, which makes these findings particularly exciting.