top of page

Experimental Breast Cancer Vaccines

#FeatureFriday



Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine

This past year, we have seen firsthand the life-altering effects that vaccines can provide. The Covid Vaccine offered a sense of relief, hope, health, and normalcy to people all over the world. Given all the positive impacts that vaccines provide, it seems only natural to explore the vaccine potential in other diseases, particularly breast cancer. In December of 2020, the Cleveland Clinic and Anixa Biosciences received the news that their ground-breaking triple-negative breast cancer vaccine had received the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to begin clinical trial testing in humans. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) makes up about 10% of all breast cancers and usually has a poorer prognosis than other types due to its aggressive nature. While researchers have spent years working on a breast cancer vaccine, the Cleveland Clinic vaccine marks the first vaccine to receive FDA approval and testing could begin in humans as early as this year.

How the Vaccine Works

The vaccine works by immunizing patients against the alpha-lactalbumin protein, which is a protein that is expressed in a woman’s mammary glands when they develop breast cancer. Once vaccinated, the immune system is trained to attack and destroy the cells that produce the alpha-lactalbumin protein. The goal is for the immune system to recognize the cells before they can reproduce and eventually become a tumor. Pre-clinical trials of the vaccine conducted on animals have been promising, with one study on female mice showing that every single one that didn’t receive the vaccine eventually developed breast cancer and died.


The Future of Breast Cancer Vaccines

The Cleveland Clinic hopes that if their vaccine proves safe and effective, there is potential not only to effectively inhibit the emergence of TNBC but also to apply the vaccine to other forms of breast cancer. While the trials are still in their beginning phase, and there is no set timeline for when the vaccine could become widely available, it is a monumental step towards a future without breast cancer.


As always, let us know your thoughts and how you’d like to contribute to the discussion.



 

Resources:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/breast-cancer-vaccine-greenlit-clinical-trials-5094403

https://electronichealthreporter.com/can-this-promising-vaccine-really-stop-breast-cancer/

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article250974549.html

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2021/03/16/could-there-ever-be-a-vaccine-for-breast-cancer/


39 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

I Miss

Meditation Mondays:

Chakra Chanting with Gloria

Mondays at 10:00 a.m. ET 

RSVP

Thursday Night Thrivers:

All Stages Support Group

Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

 

Thursday Night Thrivers:

Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group

First and third Thursdays

of the month at 7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

 

Thursday Night Thrivers:

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Support Group

Second Thursday

of the month at 7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Tuesday Night Thrivers

Después de un Diagnóstico:

Grupo de Apoyo en Español

2do y Cuarto Martes de cada mes 

7:00 p.m. ET

RSVP​

Breast Cancer Book Club

December 3, 11:00 a.m. ET

RSVP

Writing Workshop:

Reflect and Recharge

December 4, 6:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Yoga Stretching for DIEP flap

December 12 6:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Yoga with

Chair assist 

December 12, 11:30 a.m. ET

RSVP

Restorative Yoga:

Follow your gut

December 18,  12:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Forest Bathing

December 19,  6:00 p.m. ET

RSVP

Más eventos en español

RSVP

Upcoming Events

1

Surviving Breast Cancer provides breast cancer support, events, and webinars at no cost to you! Whether you are looking to gain more knowledge on a particular topic or meet up with other breast cancer survivors, we have something for everyone. 

2

Our standing appointment on Thursdays is for all stages. We also host specific breakout groups once a month for specific stages and subtypes such as Metastatic breast cancer, and Inflammatory Breast Cancer, etc. 

3

The Book Club meets the first Sunday of every month at 11 am ET. You are welcome to join each month or pick and choose your month based on your availability and the book we are reading. 

4

Through art, writing, and other creative modalities, we hold the power to manage our stress, make sense of our now, and relax into moments of stillness. 

5

Free, monthly, online classes in restorative yoga, yoga for breast cancer, and Zumba. 

6

Después de un Diagnóstico

bottom of page