Scientists are making incredible progress in using vaccines to combat cancer, bringing hope for improved cancer treatments in the future. Researchers at CK Life Sciences are developing vaccines that can slow down the growth and spread of cancer or prevent its recurrence after surgery.
One of their promising vaccines targets two proteins, PD-L1 (programmed death ligand 1) and PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma), which are involved in promoting cancer. Normally, the immune system uses T cells to attack cancer cells, but PD-L1 puts the brakes on T cells, preventing them from doing their job. PRAME, on the other hand, promotes cancer cell growth and spread.
CK Life Science’s PD-L1/PRAME dual-targeting vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to produce T cells that can specifically kill cancer cells that have PD-L1 and/or PRAME. It also triggers the production of antibodies that can block PD-L1, allowing the T cells to attack cancer cells more effectively. Additionally, antibodies against PRAME further enhance the killing of cancer cells.
CK Life Sciences presented their innovative research on this vaccine at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2023 Annual Meeting in San Diego, showcasing its potential for treating liver cancer.