title: Vaccination with Theratope (STn-KLH) as treatment for breast cancer.
abstract: Cancer vaccines have demonstrated that they can stimulate antibody and cell-mediated immune responses against tumor-associated antigens in the laboratory. However, few clinical studies with cancer vaccines have demonstrated convincing clinical responses. Sialyl-Tn is a carbohydrate associated with MUC1. It is a unique tumor-associated antigen, present on many adenocarcinomas including breast, ovarian, colorectal, gastric and pancreatic. Consequently, Sialyl-TN is an ideal candidate for boosting the patient's immune system specifically against a unique tumor-associated antigen. The cancer vaccine Theratope was developed by Biomira, Inc. using a synthetic Sialyl-Tn antigen that emulates the unique carbohydrate on human cancer. Clinical trials have predominantly been carried out in breast cancer patients and these trials are outlined in this profile.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N. PO Box 19024, D5-390, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA. lholmber@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Leona A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: Brenda M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sandmaier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; C099077:sialyl-Tn antigen-keyhole-limpet hemocyanin conjugate; D006433:Hemocyanins