In a major breakthrough, Russia has inched closer to producing vaccines for colon cancer, one of the deadliest cancers, rapidly rising in young adults.
Quoting Veronika Skvortsova, head of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA), Russian news outlet Tass reported that the cancer vaccine has successfully completed preclinical trials, raising hope for people affected by cancer.
The mRNA vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy and safety in trials over the past three years and will soon be available for public use.
The Enteromix vaccine is awaiting a final nod from the Ministry of Health before it will be available in the medical stores, according to Russia Today.
Enteromix has been developed by Russia and is the first mRNA technology-based vaccine. The vaccine, a next-generation immunotherapy solution is designed to specifically target and eliminate cancer cells with precision.
Skvortsova announced at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) that the research spanned several years, with the last three dedicated to mandatory preclinical studies. “The vaccine is now ready for use; we are awaiting official approval,” she said.
Russian cancer vaccine shows promise in pre-clinical trials
In the pre-clinical trials, researchers noted reductions in tumor size and slowed tumor progression, ranging from 60% to 80%, depending on the disease characteristics. Studies have pointed that the vaccine could also help improve survival rates.
While the Russian vaccine for cancer has been in news for sometime now, global experts are still awaiting more data around them.
More cancer vaccines in pipeline
While researchers are close to achieving the target of developing a vaccine for treating colorectal cancer, efforts are also being made to work on vaccines for glioblastoma and specific types of melanoma, including ocular melanoma, which are currently at advanced development stages.
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer begins in the first and longest part of the large intestine, called colon, playing an important role in digestion. Colon cancer is common in older adults, but in the recent decades has been growing fast among younger people. It usually begins as small clumps of cells called polyps that form inside the colon, according to Mayo Clinic. While polyps aren’t cancerous on their own, some can turn cancerous with time.
The third most common cancer worldwide, it accounts for approximately 10% of all cancer cases and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, according to WHO (World Health Organization)
High intake of processed meats, low intake of fruits and vegetables, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption are some of the common risk factors for colon cancer.