Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer vaccine

A trial of 26 patients found that a vaccine administered monthly to women led to a survival rate of almost 14 months for breast cancer and 15 months for ovarian cancer. The women, twelve of whom had breast cancer and 14 ovarian cancer, were pre-treated with chemotherapy and were then given the PANVAC vaccine. The vaccine generated immune responses against the cancer and led to a sustained benefit.

The most common side effect of the treatment was a mild reaction at the injection site but lead investigator, James Gulley of the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology at the National Cancer Institute, concluded that more studies in ovarian and breast cancer patients are needed before the vaccine can be adequately assessed.
 

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relating to the ovaries Full medical glossary
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