A New Era in Cancer Treatment: Scientists Identify Cancers That Could Become Treatable

Russian scientists are developing a personalized immunotherapy designed to treat aggressive forms of cancer, including melanoma, small-cell lung cancer, and colorectal tumors. The approach combines individualized vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors to strip away the "camouflage" of malignant cells, enabling the patient's own immune system to identify and destroy them. Unlike preventive vaccines, the "NeoOncoVac" is a therapeutic tool for patients already diagnosed with cancer. The treatment is based on high-precision medicine: doctors analyze the genetic profile of a specific patient's tumor to synthesize a drug that trains the immune system to attack only those specific formations. According to oncologist Vladimir Kapustin, the primary challenge in treating cancer is the disease's ability to mimic healthy tissues. Personalized vaccines remove this protection, while checkpoint inhibitors prevent the tumor from blocking the activity of T-lymphocytes.