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Stn-KLH Vaccine Induces Immune Response In Breast, Ovarian Cancer Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

The experimental Sialyl-Tn-keyhole limpet hemocyanin vaccine, called STn-KLH, is well-tolerated and induces humoral and cellular responses in most patients with ovarian and breast cancer following autologous stem cell transplantation.

In a study led by L. A. Holmberg from the department of medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine and Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchison Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States, 70 women with stage II to IV breast cancer or stage III to IV ovarian cancer took two different formulations of STn-KLH following autologous stem cell transplantation. The vaccine is a carbohydrate associated with the MUC1 mucin on breast and ovarian cancer that mimics the unique tumour-associated STn carbohydrate and is designed to stimulate tumour antigen-specific immune responses in patients with mucin-expressing tumours.

Overall, the vaccine was well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being indurations and erythema at the site of the injection. Most patients had both humoral and cellular responses to the agent.

Based on these findings, the authors confirmed that the Stn-KLH vaccine is well-tolerated and induces an immune response in post-autologous stem cell transplantation patients. The vaccine may prove to be a useful addition to high dose chemotherapy.
Clin Breast Cancer 2003 Feb;3 Suppl 4:S144-51. "The Role of Cancer Vaccines Following Autologous Stem Cell Rescue in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients: Experience with the STn-KLH Vaccine (Theratope(R))"

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