Breast Cancer Vaccine, First Clinical Trial Started in the United States

Professor Lucia del Mastro, Director of the Breast Unit IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Specialization in Medical Oncology at the University of Genoa: “This first phase of trials will be conducted on women who have undergone the procedure three times. Negative breast cancer, who have already received Standard treatments after surgery

ROME, NOVEMBER 15, 2021 – News of the launch of the first clinical trial in the US for a three-dose breast cancer vaccine, initially for patients with triple-negative breast cancer who are at risk of recurrence.

We asked Lucia del Mastro, coordinator of the breast working group of the Alleanza Contro il Cancro, specialist in medical oncology and associate professor at the Faculty of Specialization in Medical Oncology at the University of Genoa and director of the breast unit at the hospital. IRCCS San Martino di Genova, one of the founders of our network.

“Following the identification of a protein, alpha-lactalbumin, present in breast cancer cells and absent in normal breast cells (except during breastfeeding) – explains the oncologist – is the most interesting aspect of this research into a vaccine against breast cancer. Because of this property, alpha is considered -lactalbumin is an excellent target for vaccine development that has the ability to stimulate immune system cells against only cancer and not against healthy tissue.”

“The trial – adds Del Mastro – is still in a very early stage: determining the appropriate dose to give and assessing the ability to stimulate the immune response. This first phase of trials will be conducted on women undergoing surgery for triple-negative breast cancer, who have already received standard treatments yet surgery.”

“Only if this first phase yields the expected results, will it be possible to move on to trials on healthy women but at high risk of developing breast cancer, and thus assess – concludes the coordinator of the Breast Working Group – if the development of a breast cancer vaccine can really be prevented. As is happening today. for some infectious diseases.