New cancer vaccines aim to prevent recurrence, not onset, medical experts said at a major conference in Kochi. These vaccines are not for preventing cancer in healthy people but for stopping its return in patients who already received treatment. New cancer vaccines aim to prevent recurrence, not onset, stressed Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, convener of the Research Cell, Kerala State IMA.
He explained that these vaccines are therapeutic, designed to act as a form of immunotherapy. They focus on personalised neoantigen therapy, which trains the body’s immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. Jayadevan highlighted that this innovation marks a big step in cancer care.
The three-day Gastrointestinal Oncology Society (GIOS) conference brought together more than 200 oncologists, gastroenterologists, and medical professionals. The focus was on colorectal cancer, a disease with rising global cases.
Organising secretary Dr. Arun R. Warrier noted that cancer treatment is evolving fast, and personalised medicine is becoming key. The event also included workshops on surgery, radiation, genomic studies, and a session on non-operative management led by national and international experts.
Experts agreed that the future of cancer treatment lies in targeted, patient-specific therapies rather than one-size-fits-all prevention.
