Autologous tumor lysate/Bacillus Calmette–Guérin immunotherapy as an adjuvant to conventional breast cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION: Autologous tumor cell vaccines rely on the concept of preserving an individual’s own tumorigenic makeup, expressing its unique set of tumor-associated antigens as well as antigenic elements from the surrounding stroma. These autologous tumor characteristics are usually presented with an immune adjuvant in the hopes of enhancing an immune response. METHODS: The autologous vaccine we used was composed of tumor cells combined with BCG and formalin. Animal safety and toxicity were evaluated using mice tumors for the immunotherapy. A small number of patients with advanced stage breast cancer were recruited for an uncontrolled study, using the vaccine solely or combined with chemotherapy/radiotherapy. RESULTS: The immunotherapy had shown to be safe in mice and humans. Upon a 5-year follow-up, the survival rate was 60 % for the combined treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the combined treatment could be a feasible and safe therapeutic strategy. However, further controlled studies should be conducted.