A breast cancer vaccine shows promising results, UW study finds - Axios

An experimental vaccine whitethorn beryllium capable to forestall oregon dainty a peculiarly assertive signifier of bosom cancer, according to caller findings from UW Medicine researchers.

Driving the news: In a decade-long Phase I quality trial, the vaccine created a beardown immune effect to proteins that origin tumors to turn aggressively, researchers said successful a survey published successful JAMA Oncology this month.

Why it matters: About 264,000 cases of bosom crab are diagnosed annually successful women and astir 2,400 successful men successful the U.S., according to the CDC.

What they're saying: "I person precise precocious hopes that it is adjacent to the last measurement of this vaccine perchance becoming a attraction for patients with bosom cancer," said the study's pb writer Mary "Nora" Disis, a prof astatine the University of Washington School of Medicine and manager of the Cancer Vaccine Institute.

• Disis said the vaccine was recovered to beryllium "very safe" successful the Phase 1 trial, with the astir communal broadside effects being akin to those of the COVID vaccine: Soreness astatine the injection tract and flu-like symptoms for a fewer days.

How it works: The vaccine targets a macromolecule called quality epidermal maturation origin receptor 2 (HER2). HER2 is overproduced by arsenic overmuch arsenic a hundredfold successful arsenic galore arsenic 30% of bosom cancers, according to UW Medicine. "HER2-positive" cancers thin to beryllium much assertive and much apt to recur aft treatment, Disis said.

• But the overproduction of HER2 whitethorn besides trigger a beneficial cell-killing immune absorption successful some.
• Recurrence is little and endurance rates are higher successful radical who person that immune response.
• To harness that reaction, Disis and her colleagues created a DNA vaccine which is absorbed by cells astatine the tract of the injection.
• Those cells past commencement to nutrient the macromolecule encoded successful the vaccine’s DNA instructions which prompts a beardown cytotoxic immune response, the survey found.

What's next: Patients with HER2 bosom crab are being recruited for the Phase II objective trial. For much accusation interaction the diligent coordinator: [email protected] oregon telephone 206-543-3829.

Listen to Disis and a diligent speech astir the vaccine here.

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