Definition

A type of treatment that helps the body’s immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells. A cancer treatment vaccine may be made from a patient’s own tumor cells, from their dendritic cells (a type of immune cell), or from certain proteins or other molecules found on the cancer cells of many people with that cancer. Another type of cancer treatment vaccine is made from a virus that infects and breaks down cancer cells. Cancer treatment vaccines are being used to treat certain types of prostate cancer and melanoma. They are also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Cancer treatment vaccines are a type of immunotherapy.