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New Vaccine Strategy Shows Promise for Treating Specific Breast Cancer
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have unveiled a novel vaccine strategy aimed at treating a particular subtype of breast cancer. This innovative method focuses on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, estrogen receptor-negative (HER2-positive, ER-negative) breast cancer, demonstrating encouraging outcomes in a recent pilot study. The research, which appears in the journal npj Breast Cancer, combines dendritic cell vaccines targeting HER2 with conventional chemotherapy, revealing both safety and positive response rates.
The pilot study involved 30 participants diagnosed with stage 2 and stage 3 HER2-positive, ER-negative breast cancer who were receiving chemotherapy prior to surgical intervention aimed at tumor reduction. The innovative approach consisted of administering the HER2-specific dendritic cell vaccine before chemotherapy, allowing researchers to assess its impact on immune responses and overall treatment efficacy. Results indicated that patients who received the vaccine exhibited significant immune activity, with a noteworthy percentage experiencing complete tumor regression.
“Our research indicates that the dendritic cell vaccine has the potential to enhance the immune response against tumors, possibly increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy,” stated Dr. Hatem Soliman, a medical oncologist in Moffitt’s Breast Oncology Department and lead author of the study. “This strategy may present a new avenue for improving treatment outcomes in breast cancer patients.”
Additionally, the study observed that administering the vaccine directly into the tumor site resulted in increased immune cell activity within the tumor microenvironment. This finding could lead to advancements in immunotherapy approaches for breast cancer and potentially other malignancies.
“These results underscore the transformative potential of immunotherapy in addressing HER2-positive breast cancer,” remarked Dr. Brian Czerniecki, co-author of the study and chair of the Breast Oncology Department at Moffitt. “By activating the immune system, we may achieve more effective and enduring responses in patients undergoing treatment.”
The research received funding support from the National Institutes of Health (P30-CA076292) and the United States Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (W81XWH-16-1-0385).
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