The use of unique immunotherapies to treat lung cancer, the main cause of death from malignant tumors in both sexes globally, stands out as one of the contributions of Cuban science.
Institutions on the island, such as the International Health Center (CIS) La Pradera, offer three immunotherapies to treat this condition: CIMAVax-EGF®,Vaxira® (Racotumomab) and CIMAher® (Nimotuzumab)- the latter also indicated mainly for oncological treatments. They were created by the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM) with the aim of achieving less toxic and more effective therapeutic options to slow tumor growth and turn cancer into a controllable chronic disease.
CIMAVax-EGF® and Vaxira ® are two unique immunotherapy variants with different mechanisms of action, but the same indication: treating advanced stage IIIB and IV non-small cell lung cancer after first line-chemotherapy, explained Dr. Aliuska Venegas Godinez, Master of Science and First Degree Specialist in General Comprehensive Medicine and Clinical Oncology at La Pradera.
The monoclonal antibody CIMAher ® is also used with this indication. It is similar to others of its type but with fewer adverse reactions, and which was approved to treat these patients, mainly those with brain metastases with stable response after a first line of chemotherapy, he explained.
CIMAVax-EGF® was the first Cuban and global therapeutic vaccine produced by the CIM, clinically developed over 27 years. Approved by the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices in 2008, it was validated for sale in the treatment of lung cancer in 2015.
It is a vaccine approved in seven countries with more than 10 patients treated with clinical trials developed in Europe and the United States, and continues to expand horizons in therapeutic indications and scientific collaboration.
In Cuba, good results have been obtained with its use, reporting average survival figures from nine to 14 months in different studies carried out, and 20 percent of cases exceeded two years.
The largest number of patients treated with this vaccine in the CIS come from Turkey, United States, Canada and Serbia, and there are some who have been receiving treatment for over three or four years, with a good quality of life and engaging in social activities. One of the American patients even extended his life by seven years.
In addition to immunotherapies, the facility applies treatments with chemotherapies and natural products, as well as traditional medicine techniques, to control cancer symptoms and other secondary to onco-specific treatments.
This is part of an integrative medicine program to improve patients' quality of life, taking into account the importance of incorporating a healthy eating style.
A pioneer in the use of immunotherapy for this type of tumor and with 26 years of experience, La Pradera combines medical assistance with a natural and comfortable environment to optimize patient well-being and quality of life, an opportunity that Destino Cuba makes available to the world.
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