Northwestern University is finding a vaccine for cancer. Up until recently, there has never been a cure for cancer, nether less a vaccine for cancer. Northwestern’s scientists along with Chad Mirkin (a university professor with a Ph.D.) have found a way to remove cancer from tumor cells using nanotechnology.
This is a huge deal since this is a new science that has been around but not explored fully — until recently. Since the 1940’s the way to treat cancer was chemotherapy. It was the first practice using folic acid antagonist drugs. chemotherapy has been very helpful in removing cancer tumors, although it’s a very long process. Not to mention it affects patients physically and mentally. Chad Mirkin supports chemotherapy but says there should be better ways to get rid of cancer — Nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology in Vaccines
Nanotechnology in short words is the manipulation of atoms and molecules. In this case, the molecules that would be changed will be the T cells which are cells that hold carcinoma.
Scientists believe that changing the structure of vaccines so that the vaccine targets tumors, will help remove cancer from the patient. As science and technology advance, more modern treatments have been created to treat cancer. This might be the next.
Scientist plan on replacing chemotherapy with these vaccines, therefore are working as fast as possible to make this happen. Some of the vaccines are already in Clinical Trial Phase 2 and Northwestern’s team hopes that it can soon move on to the next step.
Treatment Centers
These are some Cancer Treatment Centers in Chicago:
- Nourish Natural Healthcare.
- Rush University Cancer Center.
- Rush Radiosurgery.
- CTCA Outpatient Care Center.
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center.
- Cancer Care Center.
- Creticos Cancer Center.
- Swedish Hospital Cancer Center.
- Lakeshore Cancer Cancer.
- National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
Written By Adriana Castelan
Sources:
WGN9: Cancer vaccines getting a boost from science born in Chicago
Chicago Business: Northwestern-born nanotech startup designing breakthrough cancer vaccine
Featured Image courtesy of Michael Lucas Flickr Page- Creative Common License
Inset Image courtesy of Amy Flickr Page- Creative Common License
