CIMAvax-EGF
A therapeutic cancer vaccine for advanced non-small cell lung cancer that prompts the immune system to attack the EGF growth signal that tumors need to grow.
CIMAvax-EGF
A therapeutic cancer vaccine for advanced non-small cell lung cancer that prompts the immune system to attack the EGF growth signal that tumors need to grow.
CIMAvax-EGF at a glance
CIMAvax-EGF is a therapeutic cancer vaccine developed by Cuba's Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM). Unlike preventive vaccines (which stop disease before it starts), CIMAvax-EGF is given to people who already have cancer. It works by training the body's own immune system to recognize and attack a key growth signal used by tumor cells. More than 5,000 lung cancer patients have received this immunotherapy, and the vaccine has drawn international attention, including a historic collaboration with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in the United States.
How It Works
CIMAvax-EGF works by prompting the patient's immune system to produce antibodies against Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) — a protein that cancer cells need to grow. By removing circulating EGF from the bloodstream, the vaccine helps 'starve' the tumor cells of a key growth signal. Without this connection, the cancer cell cannot multiply and eventually dies. The vaccine does not kill cells directly — instead, it trains the immune system to remove the growth factor that the cancer relies on.
Treatment Protocol
CIMAvax-EGF is used as maintenance therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after completing first-line therapy (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy). The initial induction phase usually requires several weeks of in-hospital care in Cuba, followed by maintenance doses that may be given on an outpatient basis. Your medical team will give you a personalized timeline after reviewing your records.
Conditions Treated
Clinical Evidence
More than 5,000 lung cancer patients have received CIMAvax-EGF. Several international studies have shown prolonged tumor stabilization and improved overall survival and quality of life for patients with advanced NSCLC. CIMAvax is an approved treatment for lung cancer in Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, and Peru. Through a historic partnership with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, CIMAvax-EGF is also undergoing clinical trials in the United States.
Availability
CIMAvax-EGF is registered in Cuba and several other countries (Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Peru). It is undergoing clinical trials in the United States through Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. International patients may be evaluated for CIMAvax-EGF therapy through SMC Salud. The process begins with a medical review of your records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Information
Medically Reviewed
SMC Salud Medical Review Board
Board-certified physicians and specialists in oncology, neurology, dermatology, and endocrinology
Last reviewed: January 15, 2025
This content has been medically reviewed by qualified physicians and follows SMC Salud's editorial policy for health information. Medical content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice.
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