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A team of scientists from the University of Oxford has made significant strides in cancer prevention, working on a vaccine designed to prevent the disease up to 20 years before cancerous cells develop. According to a report by the British newspaper The Mirror, this breakthrough is the result of a collaboration between Oxford University and the global pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), led by Professor Sarah Blagden, who was part of the team behind the development of one of the first COVID-19 vaccines.
Blagden explained that cancer doesn’t appear suddenly; it develops gradually over many years, with normal cells transforming into cancerous ones over two decades. At this early stage, the disease is not yet visible, known as the pre-cancerous phase. The vaccine is designed to intervene during this period, preventing cancer before it begins to form.
The vaccine is based on a technology that targets tumor-specific proteins, aiding the immune system in eliminating them before they turn into cancerous cells capable of spreading. This represents a major advancement in preventive medicine, aiming to protect individuals from cancer before they ever develop the disease.
The research is supported by a £50 million ($62 million) investment from GSK, reflecting the company's commitment to developing innovative solutions to fight cancer.
Professor Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, emphasized that the partnership with GSK marks a transformative step in cancer research, providing advanced technologies that enhance vaccine effectiveness and offer hope to patients worldwide.
The project also incorporates artificial intelligence to analyze detailed microscopic images of cells, allowing researchers to simulate early changes in cells and use individual genetic sequencing to identify patterns that might indicate an increased risk of future cancer development.
Blagden concluded, saying, “Thanks to technological advancements, we have identified early markers in cells before they turn cancerous, which allows us to develop a vaccine aimed at targeting these changes in their initial stages.”
This breakthrough could pave the way for a new era in preventive medicine, where the focus shifts to preventing cancer before it even appears, rather than simply treating it after it has spread.