CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic is working on a vaccine aimed at preventing triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive and deadly form of the disease.
What You Need To Know
- The vaccine is aimed at preventing triple-negative breast cancer
- Triple-negative breast cancer is the most aggressive and most deadly form of the disease
- The study will enroll 18-24 patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer
"The vaccine incorporates an adjuvant that irritates the body's immune system along with the alpha-lactalbumin target protein. The vaccine provides pre-emptive immune protection by teaching the body alpha-lactalbumin is dangerous and cells that make it must be attacked and destroyed," said Dr. Vincent Tuohy.
The FDA recently approved a new drug application for the vaccine, which allowed this study to begin. The study will include 18 to 24 patients who have an early-stage triple negative breast cancer diagnosis.
"In brief, it's open to patients with stage two to three triple-negative breast cancer. So stages two to three er negative, para negative her2 negative. They must have completed all standard treatment, be free of disease, and be within three years of starting treatment," said Dr. G. Thomas Budd.
Despite representing only about 12-15% of all breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer accounts for higher percentages of recurrence and breast cancer deaths.
The hope is if this vaccine trial is successful it could open the door to using the vaccine to target other cancers.
"Dr. Tuohy and colleagues are working on similar approaches for other diseases such as ovarian cancer," said Budd.
The study is expected to finish in September 2022.