Dr. Ian Frazer

Cancer is a challenge for the 21st Century. "Human Papilloma Virus" (HPV) associated cancer can be prevented through vaccination; that we can prevent cervical cancer at the moment through universal immunization; that vaccines are not therapeutic for existing infection although we are developing these at the moment and therefore administration of these for cervical cancer is best for pre-teen boys and girls and we need to carry on screening but the big challenge is to get these vaccines into the developing world where they are really needed. Immunotherapy routinely for papillomavirus infection we require significant and heroic intervention which would not be acceptable for pre-malignant disease. On the other hand it can be used as a proof of principle to demonstrate that a prophylactic vaccine might be effective against skin cancer. Similar strategies for the other infections associated with cancer will be necessary to enable effective prevention of the cancers through immunization.