What are cancer vaccines?
Cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent infections, cancer vaccines can either prevent cancer caused by certain infections or treat existing cancers by enhancing the immune system’s response. Cancer vaccines may provide long-lasting protection and carry fewer side effects than chemotherapy or radiation.
How do cancer vaccines work?
Cancer vaccines introduce specific antigens into the body that triggers the immune system to recognize cancer cells as harmful and attack and destroy the cancer cells. There are two different types of cancer vaccines – preventative and therapeutic.
Preventative cancer vaccines target viruses that are known to cause cancer. By preventing infections, they indirectly lower the risk of cancer. For example, the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine prevents cervical, anal and other HPV-related cancers.
Therapeutic cancer vaccines treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells. Personalized vaccines are created using a patient’s own tumor cells or specific proteins found on cancer cells. Non-personalized vaccines target common antigens found in certain types of cancer.
What are side effects of cancer vaccines?
Side effects will depend on the type of cancer vaccine, what it targets, and the location and type of cancer. The most common side effects associated with cancer vaccines include but are not limited to:
- Back pain
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Nausea