Cancer Vaccine


A vaccine that either prevents infections with cancer-causing viruses—e.g., HPV—treats existing cancer or prevents the development of cancer in certain high risk individuals. The first effective cancer vaccine is that for preventing cervical cancer. Dendreon Corp’s Provenge, a vaccine for advanced prostate cancer, was approved by the FDA in 2010 and adds about 4 months of life to the average person’s lifespan, at an estimated cost of $100,000. Other CV candidates include peptides, proteins, whole cancer cells, dendritic cells, gangliosides, heat-shock proteins, viral and bacterial vectors, and oligonucleotides