Cuba shows progress in the fight against lung cancer

Cuba celebrates World Lung Cancer Day with tangible progress in the research, development and testing of its vaccine against the disease.

Cuba has already registered the first therapeutic vaccine against advanced lung cancer in the world, named CIMAVAX-EGF, with which more than 1,000 patients have been treated in the country.

Experts from the Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) assure that the vaccine allows turning advanced cancer into a controllable chronic disease.

CIMAVAX-EGF, which is the result of more than fifteen years of research, targets the tumor-related system and does not cause severe adverse effects.

It is based on a protein that is skin growth factor and related to cell proliferation processes.

It is administered at the time when the patient concludes his treatment with radio or chemotherapy, and helps to control the growth of the tumor without associated toxicity.

In addition, it can be used as a chronic treatment that increases the patient’s life expectancy and quality.

After being registered in Cuba, CIMAVAX-EGF is being administered in other countries and the way to use its principle in therapies against other tumors, such as prostate, uterus and breast tumors, is being evaluated.

Currently, there is an alliance between the Cuban institution and the Roswell Park Cancer Research Center, in the United States, which led to the development of the drug.