Promising DNA vaccine trial gives hope for a breast cancer free future. In July 2023, results from a phase I nonrandomized clinical trial for a breast cancer vaccine in advanced stage HER2-positive breast cancer patients led by Dr. Mary (Nora) Disis were published in JAMA Oncology. The study showed 66 patients took one of three monthly doses of the DNA vaccine over 3 months. The vaccines proved safe with only minor reactions similar to the flu vaccines. The patients’ immune responses were then assessed by analyzing blood samples. The samples revealed a strong immune response to all doses of vaccines. Most notably, there was an observed increase in central memory T cells, which aid long-term immunity.

The excitement over the vaccine efficacy culminated in a mean survival after 10 years of ~85% among stage III and IV patients, which is significantly higher than previously studies survival rates around 50%. The studied DNA vaccine is now headed to phase II randomized clinical trials. If the phase II trials and subsequent stage III trials prove successful, then the DNA vaccines could head towards FDA approval where women at high risk for breast cancer and reoccurrence could benefit from the vaccines in hopes to create a future free of breast cancer.