New vaccine created to protect women against cervical cancer

The scientists have elaborated a new vaccine could prevent the majority of cases of cervical cancer. The vaccine protects against the virus that causes &to=http://sh.pravda.ru/science/ 19/94/379/10405_pregnancy.html' target=_blank>cervical cancer, which kills almost a quarter of a million women worldwide each year.

In a phase II clinical trial, researchers working with GlaxoSmithKline found the vaccine was up to 100 per cent effective for women who received all three of a course of jabs at the correct time.

The vaccine mimics two of the common forms of the human papillomavirus (HPV), teaching the &to=http://english.pravda.ru/columnists/2002/08/15/34616.html' target=_blank>immune system to launch an antibody attack on HPV16 and HPV18. Together, these account for 70 per cent of cases of cervical cancer, reports New Scientist.

According to CTV, Dr. Michael Shier, one of the study's principal investigators and a gynecological oncologist in Toronto, says the impact of the vaccine could reach far beyond eradicating cervical cancer.

"In Canada, once the vaccine is introduced it would virtually eliminate cervical cancer, almost all vaginal cancers, most vulvar cancers, anal cancer in men and women and penile cancer," Shier says.

Shier says larger, longer trials are needed to confirm the results. He says that once the vaccine is approved, it would theoretically be given to young, healthy women between the ages of 5 and thirteen.