Incredible breast cancer vaccine could eliminate disease by 2030, doctors say
A groundbreaking experimental breast cancer vaccine has shown promising results in early trials, raising hopes of eliminating one of the world's deadliest diseases.
The vaccine, which has been administered to 15 women with an aggressive form of breast cancer, has resulted in remission for up to five years, even in patients at high risk of relapse.
Among those who have benefited from the vaccine is Jennifer Davis, a 46-year-old nurse from Lisbon, Ohio, and a mother of two. Jennifer underwent extensive rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a double mastectomy before participating in the trial.
She said "I want everybody I know to get it. I want everyone to be able to get it. If this can prevent it, it'll be amazing."
The vaccine works by training the body to target a protein commonly found in pregnant and lactating women, which can be a precursor to breast cancer.
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Jennifer had no major side effects from the vaccine (Jennifer Davis)
She hopes by taking the vaccine it will lead the way for others (Jennifer Davis)Currently, the vaccine is being tested specifically for triple-negative breast cancer, which is highly treatable when detected early but tends to spread rapidly and silently to other parts of the body, resulting in a survival rate of as low as 12 per cent beyond five years.
However, researchers hope that the vaccine will eventually be given to healthy individuals years in advance, effectively preventing any form of breast cancer. If successful, this vaccine would be the first of its kind.
Dr. Amit Kumar, CEO of Anixa Biosciences, the company developing the vaccine, expressed optimism about its potential impact. He said: "We believe that within five years, it'll be on the market for people like Jennifer, who had breast cancer and are worried about recurrence. A couple of years after that, it should be available for all women, including those who have never had breast cancer. It is very exciting."
The vaccine is currently being tested by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who are cautiously optimistic about the results.
The vaccine is being developed by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio (Getty Images/Image Source)Although statistically, 40 per cent of the women in the trial should have experienced a cancer recurrence within five years, none have thus far.
Mum-of-three Jennifer Davis, from Ohio, US, spoke to the Mirror after she was the first patient in the world to receive the triple negative breast cancer vaccine in October 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic, which has been in development for nearly twenty years.
The cancer has a high rate of recurrence with poor outcomes which prompted Jennifer to become the first person in the world to take part in the trial.
She said: "Triple Negative Breast Cancer has a high rate of recurrence with poor outcomes. I desperately wanted to be a part of this trial in hopes that it would prevent a recurrence."
The vaccine is given to people post-surgery to prevent the tumour from returning, and it is tailored to each patient.
Jennifer had three doses, which she received two weeks apart from each dose, and remains in remission five years after her battle with the deadly disease.
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Despite being the first person in the world to receive the vaccine, she was excited it could help her and potentially millions of women in the future.
Jennifer was nervous before the vaccine (Jennifer Davis)Jennifer said: "The vaccine has been studied by Dr. Tuohy at Cleveland Clinic for 2 decades with the help of Anixa Biosciences.
"Over that time, they found that no major side effects occurred in the animal studies and that there was no evidence of recurrence.
"Knowing those 2 facts, I was not nervous, I was excited."
After receiving the vaccine, she had no major side affects apart from some irritation and bumps at the site of the injection.
Dr. Thaddeus Stappenbeck, chair of inflammation and immunity at Cleveland Clinic, described the trial data as "very encouraging." He expressed the possibility of treating all forms of breast cancer within seven years, stating, "If everything goes well and there is a clear signal of efficacy in the short term... it would be amazing."
The vaccine is the culmination of over 20 years of research led by the late Dr. Vincent Tuohy, a renowned breast cancer scientist at Cleveland Clinic's Research Institute.
The vaccine targets a lactation protein called α-lactalbumin, which is present in the majority of triple-negative breast cancers but absent from normal, aging tissues. If breast cancer develops, the vaccine prompts the immune system to attack the tumor and prevent its growth.
The next phase will involve a prophylactic mastectomy for high-risk women who have never had triple-negative breast cancer. They will then receive the vaccine prior to the surgery. The researchers aim to complete this stage by the end of the year.
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