New Delhi: Cancer, which causes the death of millions of people every year, has now become a ray of new hope. Russia has claimed to have developed the world’s first cancer vaccine, which is possibly being considered the biggest discovery of the century. This vaccine will be launched early next year, i.e. 2025 and will be made available to patients free of cost. This mRNA vaccine has proven effective in preventing tumor growth and the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
Andrey Kapin, director of the Radiology Medical Research Center of the Russian Health Ministry, told Radio Russia that the country has developed its own mRNA vaccine against cancer, according to Russian news agency TASS. Alexander Gintrasberg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, said pre-clinical trials of the vaccine have shown that it suppresses tumor growth and possible metastasis. In the process of metastasis, cancer cells spread from their initial location to other parts of the body.
Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that “we are very close to creating a new generation of so-called cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs.” Immunomodulatory drugs are drugs that strengthen or weaken the body’s immune system to fight cancer, infection, or other diseases.
How will the vaccine fight cancer?
Cancer vaccines target the immune system so it can recognize and attack cancer cells. These vaccines target specific proteins or antigens on tumor cells, training the immune system to recognize and destroy them. Some vaccines use weakened or stronger viruses to deliver this antigen, causing the immune system to generate a stronger response. Just as preventive vaccines such as HPV reduce the risk of cervical cancer, this type of vaccine can slow tumor growth, prevent recurrence, or eliminate early-stage cancer by strengthening the body’s natural defenses. .
Function of mRNA vaccines
mRNA vaccines inject a messenger RNA (specific messenger) into the body, which prompts cells to produce a particular protein. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a substance that living cells need to perform most of their biological functions. The immune system considers this protein to be foreign and starts making antibodies to fight it. In cases of cancer, it helps the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.
Vaccine can be made in one hour with AI
Gintrasberg explained that the process of creating personalized cancer vaccines is currently very long and difficult, requiring a lot of calculations. However, with the use of artificial neural networks (AI), this process can be completed within hours. For this, the Ivannikov Institute has been connected, which will quickly perform the necessary calculations.
