Advaxis Advances Therapeutic Cervical Cancer Vaccine In Effort To Save Lives Early

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 09 May 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Scientists at Advaxis are moving ahead with treatments that could complement two upcoming preventative cervical cancer vaccines in an effort to save the lives of women who have already developed cervical cancer.

The first cancer patients to be treated with an engineered live Listeria vaccine were recently dosed in Advaxis Inc. Phase I/II clinical trial of Lovaxin C, a Listeria-based therapeutic cancer vaccine developed to treat cervical cancer.

This is the first human study by Advaxis in its proposed development of a new class of cancer therapies. The trial, taking place in Serbia, Israel and Mexico, will enroll 20 cervical cancer patients and is expected to last approximately six months. It is expected that this "first in man" trial of a live Listeria cancer vaccine will demonstrate the ability to give therapeutic concentrations of Lovaxin C safely.

Central to Lovaxin C vaccine is the microbe Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium found in dairy products. This common microorganism has been found to help fight cancer by activating the body's own killer cells -- cytotoxic T cells -- to induce a stronger immune response to the presence of cancer cells.

Notably, it was Yvonne Paterson, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor to Advaxis, a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania, who discovered the cancer-fighting properties of a live, modified Listeria cancer vaccine she created, and brought the vaccine to Advaxis.

Dr. Paterson found that Listeria is a unique in its ability to stimulate the immune system. Vaccines based upon Listeria have a powerful, direct stimulatory effect on tumor-killing T cells. The Lovaxin C vaccine teach the immune system to mount a specialized, targeted response lethal to cervical cancer.

Dr. John Rothman, Advaxis' vice-president of clinical development, noted one interesting use of Lovaxin C, should it prove effective, could be to treat early-stage disease at the point where a pap smear indicated that cervical dysplasia was transforming into cervical neoplasia (tumors). "Lovaxin C might prevent the transformation into cancer and provide protection against recurrence, replacing the need for surgical intervention," said Dr. Rothman.

Over 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer are reported in the US annually, although pap smears and surgery have reduced the associated mortality, the disease strikes particularly hard other parts of the world.

Advaxis
http://www.advaxis.com/