Cancer vaccines are a type of immunotherapy designed to stimulate
the body's immune system to prevent or treat cancer. They can be classified
into two main categories:
- Preventive (Prophylactic)
Cancer Vaccines: These vaccines are designed to prevent infections that can lead
to cancer. For example:
- HPV Vaccine: Protects against human
papillomavirus, which can cause cervical, anal, and other cancers.
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: Prevents hepatitis B
infection, which can lead to liver cancer.
- Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: These vaccines aim to
treat existing cancers by boosting the immune system's ability to
recognize and attack cancer cells. Examples include:
- Sipuleucel-T (Provenge): Approved for treating
advanced prostate cancer.
- Experimental vaccines targeting specific tumor
antigens, such as MAGE-A3 or NY-ESO-1.
