Breast Cancer Vaccine Possible, Scientists Say

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Why is it that the new york times hasn't picked up this story? I read the new york times every day and their health news section has yet to produce any article relating to this cancer vaccine.

josemedpegasus of NJ 12:26PM December 27, 2011

There was an awesome comment about vitamin D and breast cancer, followed by a comment that said - when you can provide more than one doctor/one site - let me know.
GrassrootsHealth is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing disease through vitamin D education. All information on their site is from over 30 international scientists that are very reputable. If you go to their site you will see (left hand side) the names and institutions.
These 30+ scientists all agree that vitamin D levels are currently at epidemic levels (too low) and if everyone increased their serum levels to 40-60 ng/ml it would prevent much disease. If you have no way to test, they ALL recommend to take 2000 IU daily.
Please check it out - it is much cheaper, easier and more reliable than a vaccine. I have children and I am keeping their levels high - in order to prevent disease for them.

Susan of CA 8:15PM June 03, 2010

Alcohol suppresses the immune system.
All those weekend alcoholics who have to drink on a cyclical (habitual) basis (read: every single weekend) are increasing their risk over time.
Don't drink
Don't smoke

Healthy of IL 11:36PM June 02, 2010

The article said it is an antigen. Which means that immune system, upon vaccination, will be trained to target that antigen which will be present in the breast carcinomas. So it is likely that it is some part of protein that is over-expressed or uniquely expressed(produced) in breast carcinomas. And the fact is that it is a protein.
This comes down to the issue of making these antigens. When protein expression and purification is so hard to do, the cost of these vaccines will not be affordable.
And in terms of the "disrupting breast feeding", in the article (Ritika Jaini et al, An autoimmune-mediated strategy for prophylactic breast cancer vaccination), lactation will induce normal health cell to produce these protein targeted for vaccine. Which means, though they did not test, in theory, if lactation is simulated and the protein is expressed, those particular normal breast cells can be targeted for autoimmunity (your immune cells will recognize it as harmful after getting educated by the vaccine).
So this can be a good news or bad news, this will work as long as you do not make a baby rather than the age setting they suggested. But this also means, you can not take it even in mid 40s if you are going to make a baby.

Daug of NY 11:28PM June 02, 2010

I was just diagnosed with breast cancer yesterday. I am 33 years old and we have no history of the disease in my family (at least not on my mom's side). This is wonderful news and gives me hope that I may not have to worry so much about my two young daughters developing breast cancer when they're older. I really hope that they test the vaccine in women younger than age 40. Never in a million years did I think I would develop breast cancer, especially at my age.

Laura of VA 12:03PM June 02, 2010

Wow it is great information!! It'll be a great relief for all the women across the world suffering from breast cancer. But I think it'll take some time before it is actually implemented on a large scale. Also there should be mechanism that'll allow cheap production of the vaccine to prevent it from being a rich woman's fancy.

Suraj from mDhil 5:38AM June 02, 2010

How exactly would this work if you have a BRCA gene mutation. I have opted for preventative Mastectomies and hopefully when my girls are older there will be a proper vaccine that has been passed. I am 32, my mom was 33 at age of onset, my sister 35 at age of onset. Not taking a chance

Liza 5:28AM June 02, 2010

Breast cancer is a terrible disease, suffered by a relative in the l920's before mastectomy was common. It was a slow, horrendous way to die. Over the years, my family supported many organizations that claimed to be working to eradicate cancer, but have been disappointed that progress seems so slow. I see a connection between the delay and the fact that Congress has accepted war to be an acceptably chronic condition. If taxes spent on just one war had been given to cancer research, I am sure there would have been advances. Better equipment has been developed for most ways to improve health. When I see a bomber priced at millions of dollars, i automatically imagine how much medical training that money would provide. Many members of Congress are millionaires who have excellent health care, so maybe they don't feel personally threatened with cancer. The Kennedy family had lots of sick members, and the left a good record of trying to improve public health. More power to those working on the vaccine.

aura dawn veirs of CA 2:54AM June 02, 2010

Breast cancer is a terrible disease, suffered by a relative in the l920's before mastectomy was common. It was a slow, horrendous way to die. Over the years, my family supported many organizations that claimed to be working to eradicate cancer, but have been disappointed that progress seems so slow. I see a connection between the delay and the fact that Congress has accepted war to be an acceptably chronic condition. If taxes spent on just one war had been given to cancer research, I am sure there would have been advances. Better equipment has been developed for most ways to improve health. When I see a bomber priced at millions of dollars, i automatically imagine how much medical training that money would provide. Many members of Congress are millionaires who have excellent health care, so maybe they don't feel personally threatened with cancer. The Kennedy family had lots of sick members, and the left a good record of trying to improve public health. More power to those working on the vaccine.

aura dawn veirs of CA 2:54AM June 02, 2010