Research vaccine prevents cancer in mice

U.S. researchers say they have developed a vaccine that prevents lung cancer in mice and which might lead to a similar vaccine for humans.

The University of Louisville medical researchers caution, however, that while the animal study has produced promising results, much more research is needed to determine if the same results can be obtained in humans, the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal reported.

"Cancer has been prevented and even cured in mice hundreds of times," said John Eaton, deputy director of the university's James Graham Brown Cancer Center. But Eaton also predicted "by the time this is tried in humans, I will be pushing up daisies" because of government rules on testing new drugs.

However, Eaton and colleague Robert Mitchell said they are excited by early results from their work.

The research was presented Wednesday during an international cancer conference in Prague, Czech Republic, sponsored by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer,

Conference organizers singled out the paper as one of 10 from among the 800 to be highlighted as of particular interest, the Courier-Journal said.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International