NeuVax Breast Cancer Vaccine

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Galena shares soar on patent news "The patent covers the use of NeuVax in women with HER-2 positive breast cancer. The gene is associated with an aggressive type of the disease that is less responsive to hormone treatment. NeuVax is intended for women who are not eligible for treatment with Roche's breast cancer drug Herceptin because they have lower levels of the HER-2 gene."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-07-18/galena-shares-soar-on-patent-news

Comments

  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited July 2012

    Does anyone know what is considered low level her-2?

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 3,040
    edited August 2012
    There was an ad in my local paper this morning recruiting participants in a clinical trial of NeuVax in node-positive,  HER2-negative patients. Is anyone here participating in the trial?
  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited August 2012

    mammalou -    This is a better explanation than what I could give on low HER 2.   www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/her2.jsp

    I'm HER-2 1+ and not considered positive, but I worry that the little I have is not being treated.  I think the path report read 70% weakly stained.  I'm also greatful that the oncotype confirmed I was HER-2 negative, though rather close to the positive line for no treatment.  I've very interested in the new treatment options.  It gives me hope if I have a recurrance, local or distant, that there will be another line of treatment and covered by insurance, hopefully.  And hopefully less toxic on the heart than the current treatments.  

  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited August 2012

    I looked into this trial because I was HER-2 1+ positive by IHC and was at the high end of negative on my oncotype. I couldn't participate. You have to enroll within 2 months of completing either chemo or radiation. We can't look back but I wish that HER2 low studies had been enrolling when I finished radiation.

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 3,040
    edited August 2012

    @toomuch. The newspaper ad said you have to be Stage II-IIIa, currently under treatment or within 30 days of completion. I had 1.8 cm tumor plus a 1-mm micromet in one sentinel node, so I'm not quite sure if I'm Ib or IIa. The pathology report on my biopsy says HER2: 0, 1+ Negative so I think I am eligible in that area, and I'm still in the middle of chemo, not doing radiation at all, so no problem for me as far as the timing goes.

    I ran into my oncologist in the hallway on the way to infusion yesterday and showed him the ad, so we will talk about it at my appointment next week. 

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