In partnership with CEL-SCI Corporation, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) has produced a new investigational breast cancer vaccine. In animal tests the J-HER vaccine has shown reduction of HER-2/neu expressing breast cancer tumors, reduction mass, absence of tumor in lymph nodes or peritoneal membranes, and changes in angiogenesis.
Dr. Rosenthal, Sarah Stone and Robin Edmonds from NEOMED worked with CEL-SCI’s Dr. Daniel Zimmerman to design and test the LEAPS (Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System) technology vaccine.
Present in most human breast tumor cells, the HER-2/neu protein is the target for different types of immunotherapy with sales of many billions of dollars. Blocking this receptor protein with an antibody causes the tumor cells to commit suicide, or apoptosis. The J-HER vaccine activates a T lymphocyte response targeted to this protein that promotes killing and control of the tumor cell. In these studies, mice were immunized with the vaccine before, or one week after implantation of HER-2/neu breast cancer cells. In both cases the immune response initiated by the immunization significantly blocked further development and progression of tumors in most of the animals.
More details on the vaccine and technology available here.
NEOMED is located in Rootstown, Ohio. CEL-SCI has operations in Vienna, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland.
