Antiangiogenic immunotherapy

A group of researchers from the Netherlands and Switzerland in 2006 discovered that the protein vimentin is overexpressed by cancer cells and is detected in large quantities in blood vessels supplying tumors. Extracellular vimentin is proangiogenic (involved in the growth of new vessels) and functionally mimics the action of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), while simultaneously playing a role in shutting down the immune response. The researchers then developed the Griffioen vaccine, which prevents the formation of vimentin inside cancer cells. They tested it on several different laboratory animals with tumors of the skin, brain and colorectal cancer with varying degrees of success. In the new study, they tested Griffioen on dogs with bladder cancer and sarcoma.

The researchers administered the vaccine to 35 dogs. Half of them survived to the end of the 400-day trial period, and two fully recovered. An old pet dog of one of the researchers, who developed bone cancer, also received treatment. The tumor disappeared, and soon the animal returned to normal life.

Thus, the new study provided additional evidence that tumor vimentin blocks the immune system and promotes the development of new blood vessels in tumors. Targeting it seems to be an effective strategy for treating tumors. The authors note that they did not register any side effects when Griffioen was administered to animals. Additional trials are needed before human clinical trials begin.

Article by J.R. van Beijnum et al. Extracellular vimentin mimics VEGF and is a target for anti-angiogenic immunotherapy published in the journal Nature Communications.

Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru .