What are Cancer Vaccines?
Cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy that helps the body’s immune system recognise and fight cancer cells. Unlike vaccines that protect against infectious diseases, cancer vaccines are designed either to prevent certain cancers caused by viruses or to treat existing cancers by strengthening the immune system’s ability to identify and destroy cancer cells. They work by exposing the immune system to specific cancer-related proteins (antigens), enabling immune cells to recognise and attack tumour cells more effectively.
There are two main types of cancer vaccines: preventive vaccines and therapeutic vaccines. Preventive vaccines, such as those against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), help reduce the risk of cancers linked to these infections. Therapeutic cancer vaccines are used in selected patients to treat existing cancers and may be given alone or in combination with treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or surgery. As research continues to advance, cancer vaccines are becoming an increasingly important part of personalised cancer care, offering new treatment possibilities for improving patient outcomes.
Types of Cancer Vaccines:
Cancer vaccines are broadly classified into preventive (prophylactic) vaccines and therapeutic (treatment) vaccines, depending on whether they are used to prevent cancer or treat an existing cancer.
- Preventive (Prophylactic) Cancer Vaccines: Preventive cancer vaccines protect against certain viral infections that are known to increase the risk of cancer. They are given before cancer develops and help the immune system prevent infections that may lead to malignancy.
Examples include: HPV Vaccine: Helps prevent cancers of the cervix, anus, vulva, vagina, penis, and some head and neck cancers caused by the human papillomavirus. Hepatitis B (HBV) Vaccine: Reduces the risk of liver cancer by preventing chronic hepatitis B infection.
- Therapeutic (Treatment) Cancer Vaccines: Therapeutic cancer vaccines are designed for people who already have cancer. These vaccines stimulate the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells, helping to slow disease progression, reduce recurrence, or improve the effectiveness of other cancer treatments.
- Personalised (Individualised) Cancer Vaccines: These vaccines are developed using specific genetic or molecular characteristics of an individual’s tumour. They are designed to trigger a targeted immune response against cancer cells and are an emerging area of precision oncology.
- Dendritic Cell Vaccines: These vaccines are created by collecting a patient’s dendritic cells, exposing them to tumour-specific antigens in the laboratory, and then reintroducing them into the body. The activated dendritic cells help train the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
- Peptide or Protein-Based Vaccines: These vaccines contain selected proteins or peptides (antigens) found on cancer cells. They stimulate immune cells to identify and attack tumour cells carrying these specific markers.
- DNA and RNA (mRNA) Cancer Vaccines: DNA and mRNA vaccines deliver genetic instructions that enable the body’s cells to produce tumour-specific proteins. The immune system then recognises these proteins as foreign and mounts an immune response against cancer cells expressing them.
- Viral Vector-Based Cancer Vaccines: These vaccines use modified, harmless viruses to deliver tumour antigens into the body, helping activate the immune system against cancer cells. They are being studied for several types of cancer and may be used alongside other immunotherapy treatments.
- Whole-Cell Cancer Vaccines: Whole-cell vaccines are prepared using entire cancer cells, either from the patient or from established cancer cell lines. They contain multiple tumour antigens, allowing the immune system to recognise a broader range of cancer targets.
These different types of cancer vaccines are selected based on the patient’s cancer type, stage, overall health, and treatment goals. Many are used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or other immunotherapy approaches to achieve the best possible outcomes.
| Procedure Name | Cancer Vaccines |
|---|---|
| Type | Cancer immunotherapy |
| Administration | Injection or IV infusion (depending on the vaccine) |
| Duration | 30 minutes–4 hours per session |
| Recovery | Same-day discharge with regular follow-up |
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