Vaccine to prevent breast cancer by targeting tumor proteins
Project 3
This project is testing a multi-antigen vaccine that trains the immune system to recognize proteins linked to early breast changes to help prevent breast cancer in women at higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176765 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your point of view, this work pairs a small early human vaccine trial with lab studies of breast tissue and blood to guide vaccine design. Researchers will look at tissue from women with benign breast disease at Mayo Clinic and Karmanos Cancer Center to see which tumor proteins appear before cancer develops. People in the Phase Ib vaccine effort will have blood drawn to measure antibody and T-cell responses to the vaccine. The team will use those tissue and blood findings to refine which antigens to include and identify who may benefit most from a future prevention vaccine.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women at elevated risk for breast cancer, such as those with a history of benign breast disease or other risk markers who can attend the participating centers.
Not a fit: People without elevated breast cancer risk, men, or patients whose tumors do not express the targeted antigens are unlikely to benefit from this vaccine approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the vaccine could reduce future breast cancer risk by teaching the immune system to attack early tumor-related proteins.
How similar studies have performed: Early clinical vaccine trials in breast cancer have shown durable T-cell and antibody responses, but prevention of cancer in large-scale trials has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Degnim, Amy C — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Degnim, Amy C
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.