Josef Penninger (2009) Moves a Step Closer to Cancer Vaccine

Josef Penninger and a team of fellow researchers at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have identified a key piece of the puzzle that could lead to the development of a vaccine for cancer. In a new study, they detailed the potential of natural killer (NK) cells in combating the spread of cancer, by showing how these cells could be activated to specifically target tumor cells.

Although their testing hasn’t yet progressed beyond mice, they’ve shown that the activation of the cells can both prolong the lives of subjects, without any side effects. Now, they’re optimistic that a vaccine can be developed to mimic the deletion of an enzyme that inhibits natural killer cells, and thus increase the body’s ability to fight the spread of cancer.

To learn more about this discovery, read on here.