What if it were possible, one day, to “vaccinate” against cancer? A team of researchers in Besançon is working to make this dream a reality. The UMR Right research unit, led by Professor Olivier Adotévi, has been developing a therapeutic vaccine called UCPVax for more than ten years.
Unlike traditional vaccines, which prevent infection, UCPVax is designed to stimulate the immune system of people who already have cancer. The idea is to teach T lymphocytes to recognize and attack cancer cells. To do this, the vaccine targets an enzyme found in almost all tumors: telomerase.
UCPVax: the vaccine that teaches the body to defend itself against cancer
The first clinical trials, led by the Besançon University Hospital and conducted mainly on lung cancer patients, have shown very encouraging results. The vaccine was well tolerated, with no major side effects, and reactivated the immune defenses in the majority of patients. Some even saw their survival rates increase: “This vaccine shows promising signs of effectiveness in lung cancer, but also in liver cancer, cervical cancer, and glioblastomas,” says Professor Olivier Adotévi, director of the Right UMR.
This project perfectly illustrates the cutting-edge medical research being conducted in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. For Professor Adotévi and his team, the goal is clear: to transform immunotherapy into an accessible, effective, and personalized treatment for patients. UCPVax is not yet on the market, but it already represents tremendous hope in the fight against cancer.