title: Autologous tumor lysate/Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy as an adjuvant to conventional breast cancer therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous tumor cell vaccines rely on the concept of preserving an individual's own tumorigenic makeup, expressing its unique set of tumor-associated antigens as well as antigenic elements from the surrounding stroma. These autologous tumor characteristics are usually presented with an immune adjuvant in the hopes of enhancing an immune response.
  
  
  METHODS
  The autologous vaccine we used was composed of tumor cells combined with BCG and formalin. Animal safety and toxicity were evaluated using mice tumors for the immunotherapy. A small number of patients with advanced stage breast cancer were recruited for an uncontrolled study, using the vaccine solely or combined with chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The immunotherapy had shown to be safe in mice and humans. Upon a 5-year follow-up, the survival rate was 60 % for the combined treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that the combined treatment could be a feasible and safe therapeutic strategy. However, further controlled studies should be conducted.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina Dr. Jacinto Convit, Distrito Capital, Venezuela.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Convit
authors.affiliation: Universidad Simón Bolívar, Sartenejas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Montesinos
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina Dr. Jacinto Convit, Distrito Capital, Venezuela.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oviedo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Oncológico Dr. Luis Razetti, Distrito Capital, Venezuela.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Cirugía General & Mastología, Policlínica Metropolitana, Distrito Capital, Venezuela.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maccarone
authors.affiliation: Anatomía Patológica, Policlínica Metropolitana, Distrito Capital, Venezuela.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Essenfeld
authors.affiliation: Fundación Jacinto Convit, Caracas, 1071, Venezuela. admin@jacintoconvit.org.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Convit
authors.affiliation: Hospital Oncológico Dr. Luis Razetti, Distrito Capital, Venezuela.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Palacios
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019496:Cancer Vaccines
keywords: Autologous; BCG; Breast cancer; Immunotherapy; Vaccine