Breast Cancer 'Vaccine' Being Developed By Arkansas Scientists

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Scientists at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hope to begin clinical trials this spring on a vaccine to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer.

If successful, the vaccine would not replace traditional treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation but could be an additional treatment for patients, said Laura Hutchins, the principal investigator, professor of internal medicine, and director of the division of hematology and oncology.

Thomas Kieber-Emmons, director of basic breast cancer research at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, said the vaccine was developed over a decade of study on the immune system. He said the key was understanding how different molecules work together to combat disease.

Breast cancer cells are covered with molecules, called antigens, that are capable of triggering the production of antibodies that fight breast cancer cells. But the carbohydrate antigens on cancer cells don't stimulate a strong immune system response.

Kieber-Emmons and his team came up with an alternative approach with a six-year, $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. They developed peptide antigens that mimic the carbohydrates.

A peptide is a compound consisting of two or more amino acids. The peptide-based vaccine tricks the body into producing antibodies that target both the peptides in the vaccine and the carbohydrates they resemble on the breast cancer cells.

The trials will be done in phases. The first phase will last four to six months, and involve women with cancer that is actively spreading and women whose cancer has come back after going into remission. The women will receive five doses of the vaccine.

The second phase will last about a year and include women who have had breast cancer but are in remission and considered at high risk of getting it again. The women will have to have been off chemotherapy for at least six months.

The number of patients participating in the study hasn't been determined.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Hispanic women and the second most-common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian and American Indian women. In 2004, 40,954 women died of breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control

s latest data. That same year, 362 men died of the disease.

Comments

[Hirnlego]

One day with the help from science we'll make a cancer a thing of the past. Its too bad that we haven't done so already.

[Chaimirija]

here here

medical researchers are the quiet warriors

and yet, the physicians get alllllllll­llllllllll the money

go figure

[LaurieAnn]

After losing my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to breast cancer I will say that this vaccinne could be a godsend. I will send out my good thoughts/prayers to those women selected for the upcoming study and the doctors developing the vaccine.

I was just diagnosed with cervical cancer last week, cause by the HPV virus that can now be prevented from affecting women by the Guardisill vaccine. It's too late to prevent me from having to undergo invasive and disruptive cancer treatment, but the more reserch develops vaccines for cancer the better for women and men.

[moongal6]

Guardisil MAY prevent several types of virus' that attack the cervix and cause cancer. Unfortunately, there are over 75 strains of HPV that can cause cerivical cancer.
The hype over Guardisil is hype and nothing much more. You must listen to the advertisements in the media, it specifically says "may prevent several types of HPV". It is very expensive (a series of three injections). But, I believe the worst damage of a drug that MAY prevent cervical cancer is that women (the target group is teenagers) who receive the injections, will believe they are protected against cervical cancer and will be less likely to get a PAP annually.

[diggs]

Gardisil has hurt and killed more than a few girls already. And I agree with moongal6, it may make women feel too secure and not get PAPs regularly.

[DMGMD]

Not all HPV causes cervical cancer. There are about 100 strains, and about 30+ may be sexually transmitted. Of those HPV-16 and 18 seems to be the strains that cause over 70% of uterine-cervix cancers. HPV-6 and 11 are most responsible for Condyloma acuminata (genital warts) About 5% of cervical cancers have no relation to HPV.

Good resource: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/HPV

[Chaimirija]

you forgot about how other strains may fill the biological niches left by those prevented by the two associated with cancer

HOWEVER the vaccine does prevent infection with those

I poured over Mercks research..­.where did you get your info?

[ming099]

....as a man with an exwife and a sister who survived breast cancer and....and having witnessed what this insidious disease does to its victims...­...I am APALLED at some of the sophomoric,ignorant and simply assinine comments this post generated.­.......

......gues­s you will stop being 'gradeschool' when it happens to someone close to you.......­but probably not.......­..........

[cajojoe]

ming099 Sorry to hear about your trials. I assume you may be feeling the same when I say this whole cancer thing is far from obtaining any REAL help, any real cures or better treatments. They are obtainable but there is no interest. Not enough. I wouldn't trust the FDA and the big pharmas as far as I could throw them. It's a money making racket. The criminals own the store. Do you know that Chemotherapy only "helps" (maybe buys time, and not quality) only 2 to 3% of people, and even more disturbing I have read that the toxicity of chemo drugs could be much less, some by 80%! The more toxic the drug that is ordered the more $$ the pharmas and Dr's make. I lost my wonderful Dad to Lung cancer this year. It was horrible. I have done a bunch of research. We must not allow the FDA and pharmaceutical companies to con't to kill us with this utter nonsense. It's a travesty. It's up to us. Write your congressman, write to everyone. This must stop. Most people are ignorant to what is going on. The FDA is trying to make certain vitamins a drug! Read about Codex. It's all about control.
Sure, people have been having good results with natural healing. Good luck.

[Clarabell]

I guess the only great thing you can say about cancer is that it does not discriminate: smart aleck today, cancer tomorrow?

[diggs]

Some of us have had it happen to those close to us and seen what those awful "cures" can do. Sometimes, those "cures" kill, cause other types of cancers, blood clots in lungs, weaken the heart so badly that it simply can't pump anymore. George Washington died from Mercury poisoning because they thought they were "curing" him. No, we don't do that anymore, but in 50 or 75 years, what will scientists be saying about our cures?

[gayleg]

Which Huff Po genius decided to "sex up" the breast cancer story with the accompanying picture?

It isn't just offensive, it's stupid. No one self exams with a bra on.

[dadw5boys]

Will that change the MALPRASTICE that is going on now.

Doctors saying " IT COULD BE CANCER" when they know it is only a clogged milk duct in the breast.

Many women have their breast removed when all they had was a clogged milk duct that is easily corrected if the doctor is any good and not looking to make a fortune treating the woman for "POSSIBLE CANCER" instead of a clogged duct !

[DMGMD]

I don't know what happened in your instance, but this isn't the norm. Getting a second opinion is not offensive. I'd suggest referral to a board certified general surgeon, preferably one who has done a breast fellowship if the diagnosis is in question. I'm assuming you were referring to mammary duct ectasia by clogged milk duct.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mammary-duct-ectasia/DS00751

[CaptainStormfield]

The range of responses to this article shows that there are some incredibly vapid and ignorant people posting on this site.

[springsm]

People who are living with this disease would find the comments below to be insensitive and without much validity. I would really like to know from Gildersleeve just how "breast cancer is preventable and reversible". Reading Natural News doesn't seem to prove anything. Women (and the few men) who have had chemo therapy and are alive later may be grateful for those toxins. I can not believe the arrogance in these remarks.

[CathleenWithaC]

Thank You.

[Nick2]

I'm getting so fed up with the immaturity and hatefulness of the people who flock to Huffpo, I'm probably going to have to stop coming here. It doesn't matter the topic, Brittainy Spears or breast cancer, the same hateful immature comments pop up. I make thoughtful, careful comments that get banned. I can't figure it out.

[diggs]

I'm sorry to hear that. though I don't always agree with you, free speech, (as long as you aren't threatening anyone, which I have never seen), should always be allowed and posted.