A British cervical cancer patient became the first one to be
injected with a vaccine that has been designed to destroy tumors where ever
they have spread in the body.
The 35-year-old woman, Kelly Potter, was among the first
ones to have enrolled for the vaccine trial which will continue for the next
two years. Around 30 people have volunteered for the trails. Potter was
diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer in 2015.
According to medical researchers the vaccine has been
designed to react to a part of the cancer cell which continues the process of
replication without dying. The scientists added that the patients will be
administered a chemotherapy drug which will “lift the brakes” on the immune
system and stop it from attacking the body’s own cancer cells.
Potter, a resident of Kent, was at the fourth stage of her
cervical cancer and the disease had spread to different parts of the body. The
extent of the cancer spread mad her qualify for the vaccine trial which was
conducted at Guy’s Hospital in London. “Although
I had excellent treatment at Guy’s where the cancer was stabilized, it had
already spread to spots on my liver and lungs. So when I was told that I may be
eligible for this trial, I was delighted,” Potter said. “It’s been a very positive experience and
really interesting. I feel honored to be involved. You get the best treatment
anyway at Guy’s but it’s fantastic to be part of something that could be ground
breaking,” she said.
Potter received her first injection on February 9 and will
have to visit seven times to complete the treatment procedure.
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