Cancers for which vaccines are available

Cancer occurs when cells in a certain body part grow and divide uncontrollably and form a tumour, and can spread to other body parts.

Cancer vaccines

train the immune system to shield the body against foreign invaders or abnormal cells. According to oncologists, these vaccines carry an antigen which is similar to the tumour. Once your body is exposed to that, it creates an inflammatory response which can build immunity against cancer.

Cancer cells are good at hiding from our immune cells and since the body doesn’t recognise them, they are able to grow. Vaccines help the body recognise these deadly cancer cells so that it can fight against them.
Here are cancers that can be prevented by vaccines:

Cervical cancer

HPV vaccine

is the only cancer vaccine which is available right now. It is a vaccine which is used against human papilloma virus. This virus is an infection which is acquired during sexual intercourse and the vaccine is given as a prevention. Three doses are administered at the gap of 0, 2 and 6 months. The vaccine can be given to the children between 9-14 years. This is a preventable vaccine.

“This vaccine provides more than 90% immunity against cervical cancer. Earlier cervix cancer was the most common cancer among females and now it has gone to second position, while breast cancer has become the most common cancers in women,” says Dr Pooja Babbar, Consultant, Medical oncologist, CK Birla Hospital Gurugram.
“The vaccine is also advised for teens and young adults aged 26 who are not vaccinated,” says Dr Tanveer Aujla, Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Noida.

Anal, head and neck, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers

All these cancers can be prevented with the help of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine.

Liver cancer

Hepatitis B

vaccination can work by preventing hepatitis B and thereby reducing the risk of liver cancer. Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can range from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks (acute), to a serious long-term (chronic) illness that can lead to liver cancer. Getting the hepatitis B vaccine reduces risk of liver cancer.
“This can prevent hepatitis B infection from turning into liver cirrhosis which can ultimately prevent hepatocellular carcinoma because, as we know that the majority of liver cancers are because of infection with hepatitis B so this vaccination hep B vaccination is also has some role in prevention,” says Dr Babbar.

Bladder cancer

In bladder cancer, BCG vaccination is used to treat early stage malignancies. It is made from inactivated tuberculosis bacteria. When BCG is put into the bladder as a liquid through a catheter, it works by stimulating the immune system cells, which then attack the bladder cancer cells.
“This is instilled intravesically, which means we give vaccines in the bladder. We do not expose the body and we usually give this in early stages of bladder cancer which we call as non-muscle invasive which is actually the majority of the type of cancer. Approximately 60 to 70% of bladder cancer are early cancers,” says Dr Babbar.
In low risk bladder cancers, chemotherapy is given but in intermediate to high risk, BCG vaccination is given. It has been shown that this vaccine prevents the progression of early stages to advanced stages of bladder cancer and also reduces the rate of recurrence.

Prostate cancer

A vaccine called Sipuleucel-T is used for the treatment of people whose prostate cancer has metastasized or spread. Immune cells are exposed to a molecule from prostate cancer cells, and then infused back into the body. It can extend survival in people with metastatic prostate cancer.
There is also dendritic vaccine which has a role in you know castration resistant prostate cancer. So dendrite is nothing but it is an antigen presenting cell. So dendritic cells are with a tumor antigen.
“This vaccine actually helps in getting good control rates in prostate cancer who are actually refractory to hormonal therapy and more and more applications of these cancer vaccines are now being started. They are under research especially in the US and mostly the mechanism is that these vaccines you know they fight against these vaccine carries an antigen which is exactly similar to tumor antigen and once your body is exposed to tumor antigen or some inactivated virus or any particle. So your body creates inflammatory response in form of different you know inflammatory cells and they gradually helps in mounting an immune response against cancer because cancer cells have immunosurveillance,” says Dr Babbar.

Who should get these vaccines?

– Vaccines like hepatitis B are generally recommended for infants, children who haven’t been vaccinated previously, or those who are at higher risk of developing it.
– HPV vaccine can be given to preteens and adults to lower the risk of cervical cancer.
– BCG vaccine is optimal for those with bladder cancer of early stage.
– Similarly, Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) is usually recommended for males who are diagnosed with advanced levels of prostate cancer, says Dr Atul Narayankar, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.

Other ways to prevent cancer

Cancer can be prevented with the combination of lifestyle modification and necessary precautions. This can include modifications like eating well-balanced meals, limiting sugar and processed foods, staying physically active for more than 45 minutes a day, strictly avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and being vaccinated. Ensure that you do not skip regular checkups as they can provide valuable information about your overall health and help detect cancer at its early stage. Do not ditch your sunscreen every time you step outside to lower your risk of skin cancer.