As part of the activities of the Festival of Sciences and Humanities 2021, of the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The Conservatory “Vaccines of the future: cancer and HIV” was held. In which several scientists participated to address the issue of new biologics against malignant tumor and AIDS, and how they could create cancer treatments without causing pain.
Cancer is one of the biggest public health challenges in the country
The journal “Epidemiology of cancer in Mexico: global burden and projections (2000-2020)”. Prepared by the highest house of higher education, it explains that cancer is one of the greatest challenges in public health in the country. In addition to that it has been positioned as one of the leading causes of mortality, for several decades.
“It is a disease where biological, environmental and social factors intervene.” The scientist Itzel Montserrat Lara Mayorga, from the General Directorate for the Dissemination of Science at UNAM, commented. Such is the case of what happens with breast cancer, which in 75% of cases. They are more associated with lifestyle than with inherited genes (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, stress).
They seek to find cancer treatments that are less painful
It is common for patients who are treated for this condition to feel pain, as is the case with intravenous chemotherapy. Well, it is a drug used to shrink the tumor or kill cancer cells, and it is injected into the blood through a needle.
Medical updates seek to find cancer treatments that are less painful for the patient and that, in turn, can avoid adverse effects, that is, an unexpected medical problem during therapy, this with the help of the patient’s cells or antigens.
Molecular biology created a revolution
For his part, the biotechnologist Everardo González, from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies (ITESM). He explained that molecular biology created a revolution, as Modern Pharmaceuticals. Precursor to Messenger RNA (mRNA) treatments. Not satisfied with applying new methodologies to combat Covid-19, it intends to develop vaccines against malignant tumors.
“It is a heterogeneous disease, so this vaccine would have the ability to select characteristic elements of each patient and try to guarantee a greater effect, protection, and better therapy. That goes hand in hand with sequencing technologies, which determine the genetic code present in tumor cells and that vaccines go directly, with greater precision to their objective. These projects are under study; they are what is coming ”, assured the expert.
According to the scientist, the evolution of health techniques increases the possibility of generating safer vaccines. Although there will always be risks, but the purpose of developing them is to make them more effective in protecting against diseases.
Another alternative, said the researcher, is to cultivate the virus to treat it and be less offensive to the body and provide protection.
Mexico is part of a phase three study (before commercialization), to supply the drug against HIV
Dr. Itzel Lara, explained that there is cancer related to viruses and others that are produced by other routes, such as the human immunodeficiency virus.
“A few years ago, having a diagnosis of HIV was synonymous with death, but various effective treatments were created which made it practically today a chronic disease,” he mentioned.
In addition, the professor pointed out that, currently, Mexico is part of a phase three study (before commercialization), to supply the drug against HIV and it is estimated that it will be at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024: “we hope to have good news regarding this vaccine ”, he indicated.
The researcher added that, in creating this type of vaccines as an alternative for medical treatment, another objective is to reduce inequality in medical care, since Lara and other researchers agreed that it is different to detect cancer in people who have high incomes than those who do not. have.
Related Notes:
Micromedex; an app for medication management
Mexico has a 20-year delay in diagnosing migraine
Has Alzheimer’s Treatment Been In Pharmacies For Decades?