syöpäkasvainrokotteita

Syöpäkasvainrokotteita, or cancer vaccines, are a type of immunotherapy that aims to stimulate the patient's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent infectious diseases, therapeutic cancer vaccines are designed to treat existing cancer. They work by introducing cancer-specific antigens to the immune system, prompting it to mount a response against tumors expressing these antigens.

There are several types of cancer vaccines. Some are autologous, meaning they are made from the patient's own tumor cells, which are then modified to be more immunogenic. Other vaccines are allogeneic, derived from the tumor cells of different patients. Another approach involves using specific tumor-associated antigens, either proteins or DNA/RNA sequences, to educate the immune system. These antigens are chosen because they are found on cancer cells but not, or to a lesser extent, on healthy cells.

The development of cancer vaccines has faced challenges, and many have not yet achieved widespread clinical success. However, ongoing research and clinical trials are exploring various strategies to improve their efficacy. This includes combining vaccines with other treatments like checkpoint inhibitors, which can further enhance the immune response against cancer. While still an evolving field, cancer vaccines hold significant promise as a future treatment modality for various types of cancer.