Mayo Clinic is making significant strides in breast cancer research with the development of multiple breast cancer vaccines. Dr. Keith Knutson, Professor of Immunology at Mayo Clinic, has been leading this research for the past 20 years, focusing on harnessing the immune system to combat breast cancer.
Currently, Mayo Clinic has seven different cancer vaccines in clinical trials. These vaccines aim to extend the lives of breast cancer patients and even protect individuals who have never been diagnosed with the disease. "The immune system plays a critical role in protecting patients from disease progression and protecting patients from disease at all. So we’re trying to harness that power, and step in and boost the immune system," Dr. Knutson stated.
Of the seven vaccines in clinical trials, half have already advanced to phase two, marking a significant milestone in their development. This progress indicates that these vaccines are on track to potentially become available to patients in the future.
Recent technological advancements at Mayo Clinic have played a crucial role in accelerating the research process. These new technologies have enabled researchers to explore different vaccine approaches and refine their designs, leading to more effective and targeted therapies. "They’ve given us new directions to move forward with different vaccine approaches that we can design," Dr. Knutson explained.
The research team analyzes samples from breast cancer patients across the country to identify the aspects of the immune system that contribute to survival and prevention of recurrence. This information is then used to develop vaccines that enhance these protective immune responses.
