Scientists from the US National Institute of Bioimaging and Bioengineering have developed a nanovaccine to fight cancer. A compound that causes immune cells to attack the tumor is delivered to the lymph nodes by the protein albumin. The researchers' article was published in the journal Nature Communications, and is briefly described in a press release on MedicalXpress.
The vaccine contains antigens - proteins that allow lymphocytes to recognize different types of malignant tumors. The scientists added Evans blue to the antigens, which binds to albumin, a protein found in blood serum and synthesized in the liver. They also had a small piece of DNA attached to them to boost the immune response.
The antibody-dye complex was named AlbiVax (from the English albumin-binding vaccine - albumin-binding vaccine). After the injection, AlbiVax binds to the serum protein and delivers it to the lymph nodes, where the lymphocytes are activated.
The drug was tested on several types of tumors, including thymus cancer in mice. Seven animals received three injections with an interval of two weeks between each. On the 70th day of the experiment, the vaccinated rodents were implanted with tumor cells. Four months later, five mice survived. These animals were inoculated with another dose of cancer cells, and after six months four experimental rodents survived. Experiments on mice with lung cancer have shown that the nanovaccine promotes complete tumor regression.