CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Cuban Cancer Immunotherapy       

CUBA, June 22, 2009. Cuba is developing 36 research projects and 24 biotechnological products in tests for cancer treatment, Granma daily reported on Monday.

  In this way the Island is working to develop immunotherapy for that disease, which is the second cause of death in the country, the daily said.

Doctor Agustin Lage Davila, Director of the Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), explained that the new therapies, based on biotechnological products, monoclonal anti-bodies and vaccines, are focused specifically on long duration, low toxicity, combined use and the fact that it is possible to use them even on the elderly.

In one of the recent sessions of the Havana 2009 Oncology Congress, the expert also explained the changes in the clinic paradigm to treat the illness, among which he highlighted the need to consider advance cancer as a chronic, incurable, but controlled disease.

He highlighted that general practitioners have to assess survival and quality of life, and aim at primary health assistance. However, he emphasized the need to enhance prevention and education, because it is possible to reduce the risk factors and predominance of malignant tumors.

He said that Cuba diagnoses around 30,000 new cases each year, and that it is the cause of death for 20,000 people.

The survival, recovery and social insertion rates of patients with malignant sufferings get higher each time, as a result of the scientific work, he said.

Lage recalled that in 2008 Cuban obtained the conditional registration of a therapeutic vaccine, the first of its kind in the world, to treat advanced lung cancer, and asserted that a new compound to treat breast neoplasia should be presented by the end of 2009.

(Cubaminrex- PL)

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