Immunization of high-risk breast cancer patients with clustered sTn-KLH conjugate plus the immunologic adjuvant QS-21. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • PURPOSE: To determine the clinical toxicities and antibody response against sTn and tumor cells expressing sTn following immunization of high-risk breast cancer patients with clustered sTn-KLH [sTn(c)-KLH] conjugate plus QS-21. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Twenty-seven patients with no evidence of disease and with a history of either stage IV no evidence of disease, rising tumor markers, stage II (>or=4 positive axillary nodes), or stage III disease received a total of five injections each during weeks 1, 2, 3, 7, and 19. Immunizations consisted of sTn(c)-KLH conjugate containing 30, 10, 3, or 1 microg sTn(c) plus 100 microg QS-21. Induction of IgM and IgG antibodies against synthetic sTn(c) and natural sTn on ovine submaxillary mucin were measured before and after therapy. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses assessed reactivity of antibodies to LSC and MCF-7 tumor cells. RESULTS: The most common toxicities were transient local skin reactions at the injection site and mild flu-like symptoms. All patients developed significant IgM and IgG antibody titers against sTn(c). Antibody titers against ovine submaxillary mucin were usually of lower titers. IgM reactivity with LSC tumor cells was observed in 21 patients and with MCF-7 cells in 13 patients. There was minimal IgG reactivity with LSC cells. CONCLUSION: Immunization with sTn(c)-KLH conjugate plus QS-21 is well tolerated and immunogenic in high-risk breast cancer patients. Future trials will incorporate sTn(c) as a component of a multiple antigen vaccine.

publication date

  • May 15, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Saponins

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 34249814310

PubMed ID

  • 17504999

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 13

issue

  • 10