How mRNA could help fight deadly cancer | DW News

The Covid-19 pandemic traumatized people and societies, but it also spurred medical advances in a very big way. Perhaps nowhere as much as in the field of vaccines, where a groundbreaking new platform based on molecules called messenger RNA saved millions of lives. Now the technology is coming into its own in other areas, like as a possible treatment for another killer: pancreatic cancer.

We talk about this with Derrick Williams from DW science and ask him: How likely is it that mRNA will lead to a successful cancer treatment? And what obstacles are still left to overcome?

#cancer #vaccine #pancreaticcancer

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[DarylSimpson]

Living with an incurable disease is so hard, but you just have to live life day by day as it goes by (Cancer sucks)...

[polarbear]

Any progress on pancreatic cancer is good news as it is pretty much a death sentence and it is a very horrible way to die.

[WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Thank goodness, I hope this becomes a viable treatment quickly. Pancreatic cancer is a nightmare.

[ajahdg]

This is amazing. I lost my mother and grandmother to pancreatic cancer. It’s crazy cause usually when you’re diagnosed with pancreatic cancer you’re already in stage 4.

[orion]

This needs to be accelerated with all urgency😊

[silvialogan]

I hope that this treatment is available soon for all kinds of cancers at all four stages, so people will not have to die from this dreadful disease.

[davidjones]

As some one who hond out that I have Stage 4 pancreatic cancer last November it may to long for me but for somone in the future this could mean a longer life .

[misdrevenous]

My mom is currently suffering stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma. I wish she could try out this treatment while she is still alive. How can we apply for trial?

[peterprentice]

thank you to all scientists who contribute to this miracle cure

[geekytraveler]

I don't like the intro a little bit - I think it's a bit confusing giving the impression like covid and mRNA vaccines did a kick-start for mRNA cancer treatment. While it's actually the opposite way.

I used to work with LifeScience companies (from IT Consultancy side - but you're getting immersed in their whole business process).

I'd say - those researches with mRNA were in progress way before COVID. The complexity of technology and investigations deeply impressed me.

Actually seeing what and how they were doing in the area of cancer prevention with mRNA it was no surprise - they were able to produce the mRNA vaccines so simply and quickly. I know they appeared on market not immediately in 2019 but a year+ later - but that's due to need of 4 levels of trials, but the vaccine formula itself was done within first hours, I'm not kidding - not even days - it's becuase comparing to the level of complexity of cancer treatment - printing the mRNA for signatures of the virus, but removing the pathogenic body was in relative terms like to ask software developer to scan the page, copy-paste the header and print it - meaning - it's not my primary function - but it's no big deal... and if you're willing to pay big money for that - fine. So companies like pFizer and moderna took their chance for easy money.

But the main battle and complexity in research facilities that were using mRNA was for a Cancer treatment for quite some years

[ToneyCrimson]

Wonder if vaccine deniers will take this if they got cancer. 😂

[maladaptedmalarkey]

This is where AI holds the most opportunity, i.e. lower cost gene sequencing and advanced manufacturing. People’s fear of AI is rational, but for this application, it brings with it huge potential for good.

[johangoris]

it is still very doubtfully that mRNA vaccines saved a lot of lives, because it was also used for people which did not need it. But I agree that mRNA can be used for cancer treatment. mRNA should only be used as a medication and not as a possibility to gain a lot of money.

[Asubatsu]

Considering that this technology so far seems to be increasing the rates and aggressiveness of cancer, I'm gonna say no. Fix your diet, first and foremost.

[pjk]

Geno mapping is now the first phase as treatment plans are customized. I hope this is successful as it often spreads while being treated or already did by the time its found.

[GamersWeCare]

Hopefully there is a cure soon! This is truly inspiring!

[hexbinoban]

They can't even develop a cure for or stop the progression of chronic pancreatitis, let alone pancreatic cancer .

[paranoidhumanoid]

There's so much flooding the social media platforms since the release of the mRNA treatment for COVID emphasizing its hopefulness in battling cancer. This seems so contrived.

[dirtyharry]

Cancer should be thing of the past by now, considering how much money put in research

[KJSvitko]

Science keeps advancing. Trust scientists. Don't believe conspiracy theorists and crazy articles or media.
It matters where you get your information from. Get information from trusted sources not con men and grifters.