Journal of Cancer Research and Immuno-Oncology
Open Access

Role of Vaccines in Preventive and Therapeutic Cancer Immunotherapy

Axel Sloan^{* *}Correspondence: Axel Sloan, Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Email:

Author info »

Description

Many people immediately conjure up the idea of immunizations against germs and viruses when they hear the word "vaccine." Such immunizations have shielded humanity from deadly illnesses for a long time. The artificial stimulation of immune responses against infectious antigens by immunizing a healthy individual with attenuated/detoxified bacteria, viruses, or extracted toxins is the method through which vaccinations offer protection against an illness. A vaccine's primary function (for preventive vaccinations) is to stop or lessen the severity of infectious illnesses that are life-threatening. Vaccine-induced immunological memory acquisition frequently lasts for a very long time. Many people have developed immunity to numerous diseases as a consequence of a successful worldwide system of regular vaccination against very prevalent ailments.

In affluent nations where immunizations are acknowledged as one of the most adaptable and significant preventative interventions, the World Health Organization (WHO) also suggests giving away free mumps and varicella vaccines. The immune system works to keep living things in a state of equilibrium by keeping an eye out for the entry of foreign infections (and related elements) as well as the presence of aberrant or altered cells in order to exclude them. Immune surveillance is the name given to this process. Humans are exposed to external elements such as germs, viruses, and hazardous compounds on a regular basis. Humans are furthermore exposed to a variety of elements that cause aberrations and alterations in healthy cells. Yet, because humans are well protected, it is uncommon for these exposures or alterations to directly result in the development of illness by their defence mechanisms. Conditions, such as infections and malignancies, arise when there is an imbalance between external stimuli and biological defence and when immune system components are unable to get rid of the pathogen or malfunctioning cells.

As of present, the three main cancer treatment modalities that specifically eliminate or target cancer cells are chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical excision. Moreover, substantial research has been done on immunotherapies that use human innate and/or adaptive immune systems to treat cancer. It is becoming more and clearer that the Tumour Microenvironment (TME), which comprises of cancer, stromal, and immune cells that interact with one another, plays a crucial role.

As a result, cancer immunotherapies have been given another look and are now regarded the fourth therapeutic approach. There are both therapeutic and preventive vaccinations available as representative methods of cancer immunotherapy. The former aims to prevent morbidity from a specific malignancy by delivering vaccinations to healthy people in order to induce immunological memory.

The latter is given to cancer patients in order to treat the disease by reactivating or bolstering the patient's own immune system. Despite extensive obstacles, several researchers have worked for years to create and test cancer vaccines in humans. Streptococcal organisms (Coley's toxin) are given as a therapeutic vaccination to sarcoma patients. In this method, particular immune responses were elicited against certain sarcoma antigens for both preventative and therapeutic objectives. Based on clinical data indicating the incidence of cancer was low in people with specific infectious illnesses, this cancer vaccine was developed.

This behaviour may be due to the fact that inflammation and infection cause cancer cells to expose improperly expressed antigens. Another possibility is that the cancer cells are affected secondarily by the immunological memory of a prior infection or inflammatory response. Similar to how ovarian cancer incidence is decreased by antibodies against aberrant cell surface-associated Mucin (MUC1) generated during mumps infection, TB vaccination is now commonly used as a therapeutic vaccine against bladder cancer.

Prophylactic vaccinations against viral infection can halt the onset of cancer since some cancer forms are brought on by contagious viruses. In order to prevent cancers caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), as well as cancers caused by both, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two different forms of preventive cancer vaccinations. Just a small number of cancer types are brought on by viral infections, though. Also, there is a low global immunization rate for these preventative vaccinations.