Clinical Research News

Tumor Vaccines: First Study of Trovax for Breast Cancer to Begin

Since 1997, the Tumor Immunotherapy Program has been at the forefront of efforts to beat cancer through the development of new vaccines. Led by Howard L. Kaufman, MD, Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, the program conducts laboratory research and offers vaccines to patients with melanoma, colon cancer, kidney cancer, and other types of cancer including breast cancer.

Tumor vaccines work by activating components of the patient's natural immune response. By coaxing the immune system to produce antibodies or T-cells against cancer cells, tumor vaccines may be able to slow or stop the progression of disease.

The Trovax vaccine has been studied in the treatment of colon and kidney cancers. Trovax targets a protein called 5T4, which was originally found expressed in these types of cancer. According to Dr. Kaufman, "5T4 is also expressed in virtually every breast cancer, and so there is great interest in applying Trovax to patients with breast cancer."

The first study of Trovax for breast cancer will begin early in 2008 in women who have been treated with surgery or chemotherapy for stage IIIB or stage IV breast cancer and have no detectable disease remaining. Participants will receive Trovax monthly for six doses, and be monitored for signs of recurrence. "We will be looking closely at the response of the immune system," says Dr. Kaufman. "If there is a strong immune response to the vaccine, it will likely be protective against recurrent breast cancer."

This study is based on clues revealed by earlier trials in colon and other cancers, according to Dr. Kaufman. "In studying Trovax for colon cancer, we learned that we probably have to give vaccines fairly often.When colon cancer patients received the vaccine monthly for four months, a large number of patients had stable or improved disease. When we reduced vaccinations to once every three months,more frequent recurrences were seen."

Although the breast cancer study will be done in women with no evidence of disease, Dr. Kaufman explains that cancer cells can still lurk unseen. "Low numbers of cancers cells can be present in the body, but go undetected. By the time we are able to detect cancer cells, patients have billions of them." Based on the program's experience in previous studies, Dr. Kaufman expects that those who receive the vaccine will not have as many recurrences, or will have delayed recurrences, compared to women who do not receive the vaccine.

The study will be conducted through the Southwest Oncology Group, a national cooperative organization that conducts studies across multiple U.S. institutions. As a member and leading study participant, Columbia will be serving as the immunology center in the breast cancer study.

For more information, visit www.tumorvaccines.com or call 212.342.0232.