New vaccine strategy shows promise for breast cancer treatment

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have developed a new vaccine strategy to treat a specific type of breast cancer. This strategy focuses on patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, also known as HER2-positive, ER-negative cancer. In their recent pilot study, researchers combined dendritic cell vaccines that target HER2 with standard chemotherapy. This study involved 30 patients with stage 2 and stage 3 HER2-positive, ER-negative breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy to reduce their tumors before surgery. The findings from the study, published in the journal npj Breast Cancer, were encouraging. The patients who received the vaccine showed significant immune activity, and some even experienced complete tumor disappearance. Dr. Hatem Soliman, the lead author, noted that the vaccine appears to enhance the immune response against tumors, potentially making chemotherapy more effective. Additionally, the study found that injecting the vaccine directly into the tumor increased immune cell activity in that area. This may lead to improved immunotherapy strategies for breast cancer and other cancers. Dr. Brian Czerniecki, a co-author of the study, emphasized the potential of this approach to transform treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.