Researchers claim to have developed vaccine for breast cancer

Researchers have claimed to have developed a groundbreaking experimental breast cancer vaccine that has shown promising results in early trials, raising hopes of eliminating one of the world's deadliest diseases. The vaccine, which has been administered to 15 women with an aggressive form of breast cancer, has resulted in remission for up to five years, even in patients at high risk of relapse.
Among those who have benefited from the vaccine is Jennifer Davis, a 46-year-old nurse from Lisbon, Ohio, and a mother of two. Jennifer underwent extensive rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a double mastectomy before participating in the trial. She said "I want everybody I know to get it. I want everyone to be able to get it. If this can prevent it, it'll be amazing."
The vaccine works by training the body to target a protein commonly found in pregnant and lactating women, which can be a precursor to breast cancer. Currently, the vaccine is being tested specifically for triple-negative breast cancer, which is highly treatable when detected early but tends to spread rapidly and silently to other parts of the body, resulting in a survival rate of as low as 12 per cent beyond five years.
However, researchers hope that the vaccine will eventually be given to healthy individuals years in advance, effectively preventing any form of breast cancer. If successful, this vaccine would be the first of its kind.
Dr Amit Kumar, CEO of Anixa Biosciences, the company developing the vaccine, expressed optimism about its potential impact. He said: "We believe that within five years, it'll be on the market for people like Jennifer, who had breast cancer and are worried about recurrence. A couple of years after that, it should be available for all women, including those who have never had breast cancer. It is very exciting."
The vaccine is currently being tested by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who are cautiously optimistic about the results. Although statistically, 40 per cent of the women in the trial should have experienced a cancer recurrence within five years, none have thus far.