The new therapeutic vaccine VVAX001 demonstrated significant prospects in the treatment of precancerous lesions of the cervix, becoming a potential alternative to surgical intervention, scientists said in their new scientific work. In a phase II clinical trial conducted by the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, the vaccine demonstrated 50% success in reducing or eliminating grade 3 advanced cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3), a strong predictor of cervical cancer, ScienceBlog writes..
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The study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research showed the potential of the vaccine to change the existing treatment paradigm for thousands of women. According to principal investigator Dr. Refiki Yigit, CIN3 lesions represent a pressing medical problem as nearly a third of untreated cases progress to cervical cancer within 10 years and half within 30 years.
The study involved 18 patients with HPV16-positive CIN3 who received three doses of Vvax001 over nine weeks. Nine of them showed significant regression, with six to low-grade dysplasia and three to complete disappearance of the lesion. In addition, lesion size decreased in all but one participant, and ten of the sixteen patients evaluated cleared their underlying HPV16 infection—a critical factor for preventing relapse.
The vaccine uses a modified version of the Semliki Forest virus, designed for the production of proteins specific for infected HPV16 cells without replication, which triggers an immune response selectively directed to infected tissues while maintaining healthy cells.
Scientists also did not record a single serious side effect, and adverse reactions were limited to mild discomfort at the injection site and temporary fatigue. This safety profile contrasts with surgical excision, which, although effective, can lead to complications such as cervical disruption and increased health risks during pregnancy..
In four of nine patients whose lesions did not completely regress, residual disease persisted even after standard surgical treatment. This suggests that prolonged observation of patients after vaccination can allow to achieve natural getting rid of damage in more cases.
Also, among patients who underwent treatment, not a single relapse of the disease was registered after 20 months of observation, which indicates long -term protection, although it needs to confirm larger studies with prolonged observation, the authors warn.
Current treatments for CIN3 rely on surgical excision, which may pose risks to women of childbearing age, including an increased likelihood of preterm birth and fertility complications. If the VVAX001 is confirmed in larger tests, it will allow many patients to abandon the surgical treatment of treatment, preserving reproductive health and avoiding complications.
According to the World Health Organization, cervix cancer around the world remains a serious problem, and HPV is the cause of more than 95% of cases of disease. Vaccines like Vvax001 could be an important tool in the fight against this disease, especially in settings with limited access to surgical care.
Previously, Focus wrote that the human papilloma virus is dangerous not only for women.
Fertility drops sharply, as do the chances of having children for young men.
Focus also wrote about forecasts according to which the world will face a cancer tsunami by 2050. And this, experts warn, could test the resilience of health care systems in different countries..
Important! This article is based on the latest scientific and medical research and does not contradict it. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice.. To establish a diagnosis, be sure to consult a doctor.