Peptide-based vaccines in breast cancer

Human tumors are immunogenic and tumor-associated proteins that generate immunity in cancer patients have been defined. Many of these proteins are involved in the malignant transformation and play a role in either initiating or maintaining the malignant phenotype. Furthermore, due to technical advances in basic immunology over the last decade we have a better understanding of the immune effector cell phenotypes that are potentially involved in tumor eradication and have developed methods to quantitate and characterize these immune effectors. Breast cancer is an intriguing model tumor to target with active immunization. Dozens of breast cancer antigens have been defined [1]. Although many patients with breast cancer can be rendered free of disease with standard therapy such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, some patients will have their disease recur. However, relapse may not occur for many months to years after definitive treatment giving an extended period of micrometastatic disease that may be amenable to immune eradication or modulation. Peptide based vaccines are one of the most commonly studied vaccine strategies targeting breast cancer.