title: Current status of autologous breast tumor cell-based vaccines.
abstract: Approximately nine out of ten breast cancer-related deaths are attributable to metastasis. Yet, less than 4% of breast cancer patients are initially diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Therefore, the majority of breast cancer-related deaths are due to recurrence and progression of non-metastatic disease. There is tremendous clinical opportunity for novel adjuvant strategies, such as immunotherapies, that have the potential to prevent progressive recurrences. In particular, autologous tumor cell-based vaccines (ATCVs) can train a patient's immune system to recognize and eliminate occult disease. ATCVs have several advantages including safety, multivalency and patient specificity. Furthermore, because lumpectomy or mastectomy is indicated for the vast majority of breast cancer patients, resected tumors offer a readily available, patient-specific source of tumor antigen. Disadvantages of ATCVs include poor immunogenicity and production inconsistencies. This review summarizes recent progress in the development of autologous breast tumor vaccines and offers insight for overcoming existing limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, 120 John A White, Jr. Engineering Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: Sruthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravindranathan
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zaharoff
mesh_terms: D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D019496:Cancer Vaccines
keywords: autologous vaccine; breast cancer; cell-based vaccine; immunotherapy; tumor vaccine