Vaccinating children can reduce the risk of developing melanoma
Vaccination against tuberculosis and smallpox can reduce the risk of developing melanoma.
A recent study has shown that vaccination against tuberculosis or smallpox at an early age subsequently reduces the risk of developing malignant melanoma by around 50% and significantly improves the survival rate of people with malignant melanoma. The results of these two studies have been published in the European Journal of Cancer.
According to experts from the working group of the European Organization for the Study and Treatment of Cancer, vaccination "can provide the necessary protection against this very aggressive type of cancer". The results of this study, especially if similar beneficial effects are demonstrated compared to other types of malignant neoplasms, should lead to a serious revision of the vaccination strategy.
During the study, over 5 years, 542 people from 7 countries were observed. At the time of diagnosis of malignant melanoma, their age varied from 18 to 90 years.
Vaccination against smallpox has been shown to significantly increase the life expectancy of patients with malignant tumors after surgical treatment. In addition, prior vaccination reduced the risk of developing the disease by about 50%.
A vaccination against tuberculosis using Calmette-Geren bacilli gave a similar, but weaker effect. These data confirm once again that vaccination in early childhood has a lasting effect on the risk of oncopathology later in life and can change the course of the disease in those who still suffer from it.
Researchers suggest that BCG and smallpox virus, like other causative agents of common infectious diseases, reduce the risk of developing melanoma because they code for antigenic determinants homologous to the HERV-K-MEL antigen, a “pseudogen” product which is part of the endogenous human retrovirus K env gene (HERV-K).
A return to mass vaccination against smallpox is unlikely due to the large number of side effects that occur after vaccination, while BCG vaccination is warranted, given the increasing incidence of tuberculosis in the world. At the same time, the determination of the protective anti-tumor immunological mechanisms underlying vaccination can eventually lead to the creation of a vaccine against melanoma and, over time, other types of cancer.
Explaining their data, the researchers hypothesize that a key role is attributed to the endogenous human retrovirus. Dr. John Grange, a member of University College London, believes that many cases of melanoma may be linked to the activity of these viruses, which entered human genetic material millions of years ago. Fortunately, properly activated by a previous vaccination or natural infection, the virus puts the immune system in a state of readiness, which is able to recognize cells that have undergone malignant degeneration and restore or destroy them. However, more research is needed to establish how other types of cancer are associated with these viruses, which can lead to the development of preventive therapy. Despite the fact that vaccination can be an important factor in protecting against melanoma, avoiding exposure to ultraviolet rays is still a key point in preventing this cancer. The results of the studies give hope that the human body is still not defenseless against cancer, and that soon a simple vaccination against cancer and effective strategies for immunotherapy of malignant tumors will be available to humanity.