A prophylactic vaccine for breast cancer?
Christine J Watson1, Barry A Gusterson
1Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK. cjw53@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
Abstract:
Cancer vaccines are the Holy Grail for patients and clinicians alike. The possibility that we can be vaccinated against common cancers is very appealing and the socioeconomic consequences are significant. A recent paper from Vincent Tuohy's group, published in the journal Nature Medicine, suggests a new approach for the development of a prophylactic vaccine for breast cancer. Their strategy was to induce mammary gland failure in mice by immunisation with an antibody specific to a milk protein that resulted in autoimmunity during lactation. This also showed some efficacy as a therapeutic vaccine. Can we look forward to the elimination of breast cancer?
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