Community | June 27, 2008 | 58 comments

Cuba unveils lung cancer vaccine

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080624/hl_afp/cubacancervaccine_080624224318

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stone246

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080624/hl_afp/cubacancervaccine_0806242...

Cuban scientists on Tuesday unveiled a therapeutic lung cancer vaccine which they say is the first in the world and extends the lives of victims by up to five months. Gisela Gonzalez at the Havana Molecular Immunological Center, where the unveiling was held, said that research on the Cimavax EGF vaccine began in 1992, with the first clinical test in 1995.
It is the first registered vaccine in the world designed to battle lung cancer, said Gonzalez, who heads the medical team that developed the compound.The vaccine, based on two proteins, triggers an immune response from the victim's body and has no side effects, Gonzalez said.
The research team's director of clinical investigations, Tania Crombet, said that the vaccine serves as a compliment to conventional methods like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, allowing cancer victims to live between four and five months longer, and improves their breathing and decreases their pain.
The vaccine is available in Cuba, and will be commercialized in Latin America, starting in Peru, Gonzalez said.
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58 comments // Cuba unveils lung cancer vaccine

  • rubicon777
  • Vierotchka
  • Bulletyme
  • kool53
  • ELCID_THE_GREAT
  • Joe_Leo
    • 0
      Joe_Leo  

    • CUBA HAS A VACCINE FOR LUNG CANCER!!!!!

      I swear their country is still stuck in the 50's! What the fuck have our scientists been doing? Taking pips out of fruit and making it square! Jesus Christ, if our scientists used all the technology we had, plus the Cubans brain power, we could have cured death by now!

    • 4 years ago
  • dwpbike
  • lillpaul
  • dafunkyaztec
  • clayjj05
    • 0
      clayjj05 [removed]  

    • Kae you should go to Canada and break you foot like i did, and have to wait an entire day before i could get an X-ray and some pain medication. If our Hospitals were not so full of illegal immigrants with coughs in the our Emergency Rooms our health care wouldnt rank so low. Trust me down here in texas you cant get good help because all the hospitals are going bankrupt because of the free healthcare they are required to give the immigrants!

    • 4 years ago
  • Juas
    • 0
      Juas  

    • America_Again - you are wrong. You should read some history books, or hell, wikipedia. Your typical american arrogant attitude is sad.

    • 4 years ago
  • emmahill
    • 0
      emmahill  

    • Another positive note to come from this story is the Cuban vaccine is being tested by medics in 6 other countries - so the work and the breakthroughs will hopefully continue.

    • 4 years ago
  • usman6
    • 0
      usman6  

    • this could be a breakthrough to find cure for other cancers and if allowed in the U.S. we could have cancer patients living less painful lives for the time it gives them.

    • 4 years ago
  • Rome43
  • DELAMOTA
    • 0
      DELAMOTA  

    • this is good, but their is more money in treatment so i doubt that this will hit the mainstream media. only time will tell.

    • 4 years ago
  • aquamammal
    • 0
      aquamammal  

    • My only qualm about this will be all the smokers getting second chances.

      Let them all die for being so... cool. Haha. Just kidding, death by smoking is like death by diarrhoea, hella not cool.

      XVX for life, R.A.S.H. 'til death.

    • 4 years ago
  • Disable
  • America_Again
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  
    • America_Again:

      ****wow you are 100 percent right. what was i thinking i am soo wrong. forgive me my ignorance got the best of me. what can i do to amend my wrong doing. oh wise one enlighten me on thy ways so that i may learn to be like thee. **

    • 4 years ago
  • stone246
  • clayjj05
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  

    • the health care system is horrible to say the least that is well documented but the research schools are remarkable and the health care system is in progressive change though very slow it is still changing thanks to new leadership.and that is something worth noting. also it is kinda sad that the wealthiest nation on the planet is ranked two steps above cuba. tisk tisk

    • 4 years ago
  • ocanada
    • 0
      ocanada  

    • Cubas healthcare system was two rankings bellow ours in the list of developed and developing nations healthcare systems at 39. (yes we are deservedly only 37th on that list. last year 100,000 people died of easily treatable illness) Our higher ranking is due primarily to our high level of research and development. I think that ranking will change with this anouncement and thats truly sad. That this can Occur in our hemisphere should be a wake up call to Americans that our research dollars aren't going where they need to. On average the five largest pharmacutical companies in the U.S. spend more than double the costs of research on marketing for new drugs.

      This may not be a cure all but it gives back quality of life to cancer patients, thats worth more than I can say after having watched two uncles and an aunt pass away slowly and painfully with chemotherapy. One uncle suffered horrid hallucinations during his final months due to an adverse reaction to the morphine given to help overcome the pain. Anything is preferable to that.

    • 4 years ago
  • ocanada
    • 0
      ocanada  
    • ocanada:

      You know, I might just have to take that as a compliment.
      There are many debates and stories, personal and in the news, relating the topics like Universal Healthcare, and Stem Cell research here on Current and I am happy to welcome you to the conversation.
      I'd also like to add though not Cuban myself I am a friend of Mariano Pozzo, the grandson of Chano Pozzo and a former member of the Cuban National Baseball team, who sought asylum here in the U.S. to live out his dream of making it in the big leagues in the United States and who played five years AAA ball here.
      I also helped to create an afro Cuban arts festival here in my city called Viva Cuba. I have an immense respect for the Cuban people and the amazing global impact your culture has. It also helped me to glean some of though certainly not understand all of the political nuances of the last fifty years in Cuba. That can only come from first hand experience like yours and your fathers but I also learned that the American Cuban community is anything but monolithic and there are many different and undeniably passionate opinions represented. Ethnic Cubans feel differently than White Cubans, Rich different than Poor, refugees different than immigrants, second generation different from first and variations of every possible within those groups.
      I wouldn't make the assertion that Cuba's system of healthcare is perfect, far from it. That is acknowledged in its current standing but saying our healthcare is just better than Cuba's is not satisfying enough for me. To say Costa Rica's is better is not something I am comfortable with. Americans take the best from the rest of the world and improve and innovate, we lead not trudge along aimlessly and I will not apologize for my belief that we can do better and that we have an obligation as a great nation to do better for our citizens. I was moved by Sicko, I will admit because my mother and stepfather are first responders, had they been in New York, it could have been them in the situation depicted in the film.

    • 4 years ago
  • donkeyfly69
    • 0
      donkeyfly69  
    • ocanada:

      why is it that telling a personal story makes you a liberal hippy? give him a break, he's just putting in input using his own personal experiences. it's better than someone who has not had to deal with the situation putting their two cents in.

    • 4 years ago
  • America_Again
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  
    • America_Again:

      well now I see your point of view. there is no way that a Cuban American or the Cubans in Cuba or abroad can have anything nice to say about Castro and his government. I'm Cuban well not really coz i was born here so I can't really say that. my family is and i can't speak the language if my life depended on it. but my focus is on post castro. i know its been horrible and still is but the little things that Cubans achieve even under the banner of communism are still grande. no matter who is profiting from it. it is 100 percent Cuban. made by our great thinkers. now that's something worth writing home about.

    • 4 years ago
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  
    • America_Again:

      okay whatever you say. i;m not Cuban I'm Muslim , Jewish and part Cherokee and i just faked my identity to suit my argument. I'll leave you with this though. why do you think i am so passionate about Cuba's health care and schools. but i guess that doesn't count since I'm not Cuban right.

    • 4 years ago
  • Ricky84
  • stone246
  • carligula
    • 0
      carligula  
    • America_Again:

      Maybe you should talk to your father some more or have him respond to this and not you. Hopefully he has more informed non-reactionary responses.

      You have veered away from the article posted.

      Your statement about "the American way" is bold, considering the role the U.S. has played in international, and domestic relations since its beginnings.

      I dont know where in the United States you live but for your information the U.S. does not always put its people first. If that were the case the American health care system would be ranked higher than it is, and fewer Americans would die from lack of help from the government you say puts its people first. Thanks for making me laugh out loud today.

    • 4 years ago
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  

    • " If Cuba is at the top of their game, why don't they consider their population first. That's the Right thing to do. That's the American way" .

      forgive my ignorance i didn't know that the Cuban government had to follow the "American way" . okay so lets do this your way. America is a wealthy nation it doesn't consider its people first in terms of health care. America is a wealthy nation it doesn't consider its people first in terms of education. and the most important issue for the moment, its energy security, is vital for Americas future but it isn't considering its people instead party bickering and I'm right your wrong type propaganda is the norm.

      "With Communism, there is no *different* things. With Communism, there is only the State - *One* thing! .....The point is that Castro doesn't, Communism doesn't. "

      Clearly from this you haven't got the slightest clue about whose running Cuba's health care right now. because the person running Cuba and the person running the health care is not the same person and yes there is a difference. like i said , it is flawed but its changing thanks to the new leadership. I suggest instead of reading talking points from everyone else do some leg work and actually find out more about this before you start bashing it like that. true i agree with you one hundred percent about the Cuban people's health situation but it is changing first of and again my argument was just for the quality of the school. I suggest that you do your own research on what is happening to Cuba since Castro's illness and make your point then. true the situation isn't great at all but if you can do an unbiased research on before castro's illness and after then you will see where i am coming from. that is of course if you wish to understand my point of view. but if you don't then oh well.

    • 4 years ago
  • carligula
    • 0
      carligula  

    • America_Again, you are making this about Cuba vs. The U.S. Why cant you just recognize the accomplishment of Cuban scientists and be happy for any advancement towards humanity? If you have not personally been to Cuba you shouldnt make any McCarthy-ist assumptions about why Cubans are "swimming" into the U.S., which by the way is very degrading to Cuban immigrants.

      The U.S. embargo on Cuba is of the longest lasting in history and needs revision. Cuba today is not the Cuba of 1962. We threaten the world with nukes, and passive aggressive forced cooperation, yet you have nothing to say about that.

    • 4 years ago
  • America_Again
  • torybart
    • 0
      torybart  
    • America_Again:

      "If Cuba is at the top of their game, why don't they consider their population first. That's the Right thing to do. That's the American way."

      If you believe this I feel really sad for you...

    • 4 years ago
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  

    • Okay first of I have never seen sicko before so don't know what you are referring to. second , i was talking about their research school not Cuba's medical system two different things. third going by your argument we are the richest nation in the world and yet we have a health care crisis. our research facilities are in the billions of dollars a year but most of the American population does not see the marvel research that are produced daily in them. also Cuba has a "medical tourism" only because no rational thinking person will pay three times as much for something they could get for less than a quarter. so whose to blame, Cuba for accepting the cash or our health care system for being too pricey even for the wealthy. lastly i am a med student my reference to Cuba being one of the best isn't taken from a "News week article" or some third party journal . its taken from actual field research and well researched, well documented information done by doctors and professors.it is ONE of the best medical research facilities because it doesn't ration what research to be funded; all research is fair game. Cuba also pays for the med students to come and study there. almost 1500 foreign student from across the globe Europe and the U.S. included go to Cuba to earn their medical degrees every year.and they don't just research shelf space drugs they research even the not so popular and unknown ailments that affect us all.Its a battle to get that done here only because its too expensive and there is no money in it . also in order to graduate from Cuba as a med student you are required to do your internship for at least a year in an underdeveloped country. Cuba sends at least three thousand students to Africa and Asia every year. and so much more. so my argument is solely based on the school not the medical system or even the government. also on a side note their med school system also has flaws just like ours does but the good out ways the bad for the most part.

    • 4 years ago
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  

    • Well irregardless of why Cubans come here or not .this is a great scientific discovery from Cuba. 5 months may not be much but i guarantee you the person dying thinks its a lifetime. Besides Cuba has one of the best medical school research programs in the world. their achievement is marvel. besides look at it this way with a lot more research they could figure out how to prolong this.

    • 4 years ago
  • Blazesboy
  • America_Again
  • clayjj05
  • NaCl
    • 0
      NaCl  
    • America_Again:

      well you don't see the US prohibiting the sale of chinese and korea products like they do cuban exports, do you?

      they swim here because they can't get a decent job in the country to support themselves and their family. They swim here because most don't even have basic luxuries(sp?) that americans have.

      if you want to compare things, tell me why everybody else did the same thing and we've forgave everyone except cuba.

      And please don't let me start on Iraq. Tell me why are we basically sacrificing thousands of soilder's lives to try and change a country thousands of miles away in which the inhabitants adamantly displayed hostility towards our troops, when ther is a country right under us maybe a little over 50 miles from us that has hundreds of children dying from malnutrition in Haiti.

      I bet you if haiti had half the natural reasources the middle east has, then ther would've been soilders down there handing out Big mac's and shit...

    • 4 years ago
  • dearmat23
  • dwpbike
  • keithponder
  • bizerk_turq
    • 0
      bizerk_turq  
    • America_Again:

      Get you facts straight Cuba is one of the best countries in all of Latin America and the reason they are so "poor" is due to the fact that the U.S has had a blockade on them for how long now because they wont conform to America's idea of democracy and freedom....and if you know whatever it is you're talking about, you would realize that there are laws that take away all your civil liberties that you hold so dearly... the same liberties that America criticizes Cuba from taking away from their people.

    • 4 years ago
  • keithponder
    • 0
      keithponder  
    • America_Again:

      Don't know who you're suggesting to get their facts straight, but I think that we're saying the same thing. I too, think Cuba is a good country. I 'm saying that the embargo is what made the people suffer.

    • 4 years ago
  • Joe_Leo
    • 0
      Joe_Leo  
    • America_Again:

      because america are scared shitless of communism so they cut it off from civilisation. It was only last week europe lifted the trade embargo. America is still being stubborn as hell and probably still looking for an excuse to go to war with them. They've looked for excuses before, but they were "too unrealistic". Not that anyone would stand up to the giatn fuck that is the States.

      No offence to any american citizens, just your government whom you didnt vote for.

    • 4 years ago
  • cerealforeal
  • NaCl
  • RonenA
  • Juas
    • 0
      Juas  
    • NaCl:

      America_Again - you are wrong. You should read some history books, or hell, wikipedia. Your typical american arrogant attitude is sad.

    • 4 years ago
  • clayjj05
  • tonality
    • 0
      tonality  
    • clayjj05:

      this is a good example of why you should both read the article (or at least the summary) and also think about the issue independent of the generalizations you may be tempted to make. i like that you're attempting to make some kind of a point, especially at the expense of private health care, i don't think big medicine makes much off of untreatable lung cancer patients who die within months of diagnosis. [][][][][]

      even if that were the case, according to the article this 'vaccine' only extends a lung cancer victim's life by up to five months so it could hardly make a dent in big medicine's theoretical lung cancer cash machine. [][][][][]

      personally i wonder whether the additional five months are worth having for lung cancer sufferers, a close family member was afflicted and i know that once the condition is bad enough to require medical attention, it quickly escalates to a violent presence that completely controls the rest of the victim's short life. any progress in fighting cancer is good progress though.

    • 4 years ago
  • donkeyfly69
  • iloveravi
  • rebot
  • chillwillNJ
    • 0
      chillwillNJ  
    • clayjj05:

      Keithponder,
      Maybe he meant SCIENTISTS FROM AMERICA.
      I've never heard of anyone say that whites have some kind of strangle hold on the scientific field.
      Why do you feel the need to pull out the race card?

    • 4 years ago
  • donkeyfly69
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