Vaccine Antibody Shows Promise for Ovarian Cancer and Melanoma

In a recent study, researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that giving patients with advanced melanoma or ovarian cancer that have been immunized with a GVAX vaccine, periodic infusions of anti-CTLA-4 antibodies provides a strong immune response to tumors with less-severe side effects. Read more

MMR Not Linked To Autism!

According to the latest study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, Mumps, Measles, Rubella (MMR) vaccine is not responsible to the development of autism. In the study funded by the Department of Health, researchers from the Health Protection Agency, Guy’s Hospital in London and Manchester University evaluated blood samples taken from 250 children, 98 of whom presented with symptoms of autism. Scientists analyzed the blood for the presence of measles virus and its antibodies.

Gathered data indicated no difference in the amount of measles virus or its antibodies in the blood of children with autism and those without the disorder. Contradicting earlier theories, researchers have not found any variations in the incidence of bowel disorders. It was previously suggested that certain bowel disorders, may have been caused by the vaccine and later progress into Autism.

Of particular concern was the fact that a number of children lacked their second MMR booster shot. Scientists hope that this study will put an end to a controversy, set forth by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, and that the number of children missing out on this important vaccine will diminish significantly.