Cancer is an inheritance of mankind, a condition that has existed among the entire animal kingdom since ancient times. Just as the nature of diseases has changed over the years, so will it continue to evolve. Illness brings suffering, and while various traditional methods have been proposed to alleviate this pain, modern medicine increasingly emphasises the development of treatment methods. Medical science plays a fundamental role in this regard, significantly eradicating many diseases through research.
Cancer has become a global issue, and extensive research is underway to combat it. Countries such as Russia, the USA, China, Japan, Cuba, and the UK, along with several Asian nations, have initiated special research endeavours. Russia has confirmed that it has successfully developed a specific vaccine against cancer. As the New Year approaches, the world is welcoming this good news.
Stable Treatments for Cancer from Russia
Russia is preparing to introduce a valuable cancer vaccine and is willing to provide it to the world free of charge. Just as countries compete to reach the moon, they are similarly competing to discover a vaccine or treatment for cancer. Russia has emerged victorious in this race. The mRNA cancer vaccine is expected to be introduced in 2025. Following numerous preliminary clinical trials, researchers have indicated that this vaccine will also be effective against existing cancers.
First Revelations About the Successful Vaccine
During an interview with Rossiya television, the first announcement regarding this breakthrough came from Andrey Kaprin, head of the Radiotherapy Research Centre at the Russian Ministry of Health. He stated that Russia has developed an mRNA-based vaccine that will be provided to patients free of charge. This news has spread globally with incredible speed.
Announced by the Russian President
Introducing such a vaccine is significant at a time when the fight against cancer has become a challenge for the world. At the beginning of 2024, Russian President Putin said the vaccine development process had succeeded. He emphasised that Russia was also preparing to introduce immunomodulatory drugs that would assist in curing cancer and other diseases by stimulating the immune system. Thus, the promise made by the Russian President at the start of 2024 has now become a reality.
Functionality of the New Vaccine
The new vaccine targets cancer cells directly. According to Alexander Ginzburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, it stimulates the immune system to recognise and destroy these cancer cells. He indicated that the vaccine could help control conditions like cervical cancer while enhancing natural defences and inhibiting tumour growth. Ginzburg noted that the ability to prevent cancer cell regeneration is also a key feature of this vaccine, as early detection is essential for effective cancer treatment.
A large team of scientists has contributed to the development of this vaccine. The Gamaleya National Research Centre has previously developed several vaccines against bacteria and viruses and has successfully met the considerable challenge of creating a cancer vaccine. While individual cancers differ from person to person, making treatment challenging, global scientists assert that if the vaccine identified by Russia is effective, it would mark a turning point in medical science. Thus, Russia may emerge as a country that has accomplished another breakthrough.
Questions Raised Regarding the Vaccine
However, some scientists have raised several questions about this vaccine. One query is whether the new vaccine will help treat all cancers. Another concern is whether it can effectively treat only one type of cancer. Thirdly, they ask why comprehensive information about this vaccine has not yet been made public.
1.8 Million Deaths Annually from Cancer
Cancer is a leading cause of global mortality. According to the World Health Organisation, there are estimated to be 20 million new cancer cases annually, and about 9.7 million people die from the disease each year. In 2022, it was found that the most prevalent cancer affecting the global population was lung cancer, accounting for approximately 1.8 million deaths annually. Other prominently reported cancers include colorectal, stomach, and prostate cancers. Cancer remains a significant threat in Russia, with 635,000 reported cancer patients in 2022, primarily suffering from colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers, as noted by Veronika Skvortsova, head of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia.
Vaccine Development Against Lung Cancer in the UK
Various countries are making efforts to develop vaccines against cancer. The first reports concerning a vaccine for lung cancer came from the UK. Known as BNT116, this vaccine was developed through collaborative research conducted by the University of Oxford and the Francis Crick Institute at University College London. Initially, 3,000 doses of the vaccine were produced, and it aims to recognise and eliminate abnormal cancer cells while stimulating the immune system. The chief executive of the UK Cancer Research Institute, Michelle Mitchell, stated last August that a golden era for cancer research has begun.
Lung Cancer – The Most Prevalent in Europe
Among all cancer-related deaths in Europe, those from lung cancer accounted for approximately 4.5%. In 2020, lung cancer was responsible for 1.5% of cancer-related deaths. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The new vaccine is currently being tested on patients in countries like the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and Australia.
Trials at Florida Universities
Many countries are engaged in a competition to develop vaccines against various cancers. In the USA, trials for a vaccine targeting brain tumors began at universities in Florida last May. Researchers noted that immune responses were triggered two days after vaccination, according to results from studies carried out by two pharmaceutical companies.
Meanwhile, the Serum Institute based in Pune, India, has launched a vaccine for cervical cancer in the market, expected to be used clinically starting in 2023. British scientists are also working to develop the world’s first vaccine against dimorphic tumours.
New Discoveries and Global Responsibility
Russia claims to have developed a vaccine that can be used against all types of cancer, reflecting a highly competitive atmosphere. If this vaccine proves to be genuinely effective, it will significantly impact medical science. According to Russia, this vaccine is set to be notified to the world by 2025, and they also appear to be willing to offer it for free.
It is uncertain whether it will be given free of charge or at a cost, but what is critical is having a vaccine effective for cancer prevention. In this context, it is crucial for all countries, including the World Health Organisation, to pay attention.
Moreover, ensuring the vaccine’s improvement devoid of criticism and creating mechanisms to allow all nations to benefit from its advantages is a responsibility they hold. Given the daily emergence of countless cancer cases and the significant number of deaths it causes, acting with understanding in this regard is of utmost importance.
