Breast cancer vaccine proves successful in tests on mice, moves on to human subjects

Here's a cause for optimism, albeit the cautious kind. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute have managed to isolate a human protein that plays part in the development of breast cancer, and have produced a vaccine against its creation that has delivered an impressive success rate in testing on mice. In a test group of genetically cancer-prone rodents, none of those injected with á-lactalbumin developed the potentially deadly disease. The progress of this drug trial to testing on humans has been met with reservation by cancer research groups, who remind us that we're years away from knowing if it will actually work on our species. Still, this is quite the little breakthrough and we hope all goes according to plan.

[AckbarsFist Posted May 31st 2010 9:57AM]

This would be an awesome breakthrough. Fingers crossed.

[Sled Posted May 31st 2010 10:40AM]

@AckbarsFist Agreed! This should be breaking news

[Punisher Plum Posted May 31st 2010 11:02AM]

@Sled

I knew my donation this year was going to be the difference!!!

[Konga068 Posted May 31st 2010 11:42AM]

@Sled This isn't breaking news, but Steve Jobs's future appearance at WWDC is. Not an Apple hater, just saying...

[bolezhinkov Posted May 31st 2010 12:34PM]

@AckbarsFist

a canadian scientist also used the venom of a shrew recently to kill cancer cells . . . it looks pretty promising and it is going to human trials - something less than 1% of cancer drugs ever get to

[metric Posted May 31st 2010 12:55PM]

@AckbarsFist Dont worry Obama will prolly tax this research to death like he's doing with medical device companies to pay for insurance for the lazy.

[Mike10010100 Posted May 31st 2010 1:21PM]

@metric

ZOMGOBAMALOLZ.

Shut up so that the adults can speak about this amazing new preventative measure. Truly a testament to human ingenuity.

[UrAwFuL Posted May 31st 2010 1:59PM]

I hope nobody turns into cannibalistic zombies like I Am Legend.

[Zhukov Posted May 31st 2010 5:40PM]

@UrAwFuL
Don't be silly. Of course you do.

[abedinthehouse Posted May 31st 2010 7:56PM]

@AckbarsFist

I just hope it follows through and is the cause for possible cure one day..(soon)

[mboudreau Posted Jun 1st 2010 12:01PM]

@AckbarsFist

I know that tie! That's Bill Nye the Science Guy!

[obiterdictum Posted Jun 2nd 2010 4:17PM]

@Konga068 This is a gadget blog, not a science blog.

[rk151094 Posted May 31st 2010 10:00AM]

A cure for cancer. What the world has been waiting for.

[Joshua Topolsky Posted May 31st 2010 10:01AM]

@rk151094 Not so much a cure as a preventative measure. But huge nonetheless!

[broli Posted May 31st 2010 10:02AM]

@rk151094 You clearly don't know how the world works.

[SolidSnake Posted May 31st 2010 10:03AM]

@Joshua Topolsky
I join the rest of the (sane) commenters here in saying godspeed to the researchers.

[wack Posted May 31st 2010 10:11AM]

@rk151094
you have no grasp on what vaccine means do you?

[Midnitte Posted May 31st 2010 12:56PM]

@rk151094

Robert Neville is waiting to fix this...

[nerdinerdiness Posted May 31st 2010 1:07PM]

@Joshua Topolsky Dude man, they've been keeping the cancer curing stuff secret for a while (since it's non-profitable because it's natural and non-patentable). And now that word is getting around... why not start saying we're finding cures...
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/jun/16/u_s_government_stopped_research_
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_marijuana#Breast_cancer

[nerdinerdiness Posted May 31st 2010 1:14PM]

@Joshua Topolsky bug found! the top link I posted doesn't work because the last underscore gets lost... Like when I posted it, it was there. But now it's gone. weird...

[horchata Posted May 31st 2010 4:59PM]

@nerdinerdiness

Yeah, I've also heard about how there are natural, affordable, non-pharmaceutical cures/solutions to cancer and aids, but that pharm companies are doing their best to suppress and discredit them (because it would undermine their multi-trillion dollar empire). Who knows really, but if this is true, then it's yet another sad reality of pure capitalism

[JonsMind Posted May 31st 2010 10:02AM]

Wow, science and technology in its finest hours.

[tehslax Posted May 31st 2010 10:02AM]

lets hope this is the real deal

[SeeKo Posted May 31st 2010 10:09AM]

This is great news!

I also like your approach to broaden your blog into other sciences. :-)

[alialo Posted May 31st 2010 10:16AM]

I recognise that bow tie. Is that Dr Who?

[Slvrgun Posted May 31st 2010 10:23AM]

Wish they had some human trials done in the early 80s, maybe my aunt would still be here....

[Shalabi Posted May 31st 2010 10:28AM]

http://www.savethetatas.com/

[sweet greggo Posted May 31st 2010 10:36AM]

I love when science beats god at her own game. *shakes fist at sky* Take that, bitch!

[dajimmers Posted May 31st 2010 10:37AM]

I love your alt content. Very interesting articles, and now I can get more of my daily reading here than at other places. One note that the BBC missed too- it's actually the Lerner Institute, not Learner.

I'll be very interested in seeing where this research goes. The results were remarkable, but an immunization against a molecule already in our bodies carries plenty of risks- allergic reaction, loss of function (breast milk), interaction with other systems, risk of other cancers, etc.

[IshimaruKenta Posted May 31st 2010 10:37AM]

Did no one watch I Am Legend? I await our zombie apocalypse with open arms.

[emax Posted May 31st 2010 10:44AM]

@IshimaruKenta yeppp we are doomed...Although.. I rather fight for my life against an army of machines controlled by a self aware network of computer systems that launches a nuclear attack against the human race, instead of zombie vampires... So lets hope that happens first..

[DWells55 Posted May 31st 2010 1:02PM]

@IshimaruKenta
First thing I thought of when I saw the headline was I Am Legend. IN all seriousness, I really do hope this is eventually effective on humans, as it would save countless lives and be one of the greatest medical breakthrough in ages. Hopefully that would also inspire more researchers to continue work and spur donations to the field.

[Avaron Posted May 31st 2010 10:59AM]

Now where is the vaccine against prostate cancer ?

[surfernerd6987 Posted May 31st 2010 11:00AM]

Save the boobies, lol. This is great news!!!

[Mike Vick Posted May 31st 2010 11:02AM]

Now this is when science and the United States is at its best! Vaccine for cancer will help to many people.

[fizix Posted May 31st 2010 11:17AM]

I very much doubt the pharmaceutical companies out there will approve of this.

[TGrant Posted May 31st 2010 11:37AM]

Boobs, cancer-free, and technology

[LiveFromThe215 Posted May 31st 2010 12:34PM]

Please hurry up with an outright vaccine for cancer so I can submit myself to unhealthy levels of radiation so my body can gain superpowers instead of getting sickly & falling apart

[Evan Brower Posted May 31st 2010 12:53PM]

@Joshua Topolsky
Being a postdoctoral research fellow studying cancer biology, I greatly appreciate Engadget spreading this news with the masses. I've relied upon Engadget for gadget news for years, but I especially enjoy science-related posts. With the launch of Engadget Alt, I've been thinking perhaps it's time for an Engadget page dedicated to science news? We all love hearing about new and amazing lasers, how the LHC will destroy the world, and how carbon nanotubes are the future of pretty much everything. Exciting science news is revealed almost everyday, and Engadget is a great place to present this material.

[radi78231 Posted May 31st 2010 1:02PM]

@Evan Brower
I also work in biology - namely molecular biology and directed evolution and I second that!

[GeneralThade Posted May 31st 2010 4:15PM]

LOL mouse beewbs. LOL.

[SonicGA Posted May 31st 2010 4:26PM]

After all of the celebrity deaths, BP's oil spill, and the immigration debate in AZ, this is the best news I've heard in a long time.

[wineman Posted May 31st 2010 7:10PM]

"Run From The Cure" on Youtube - Hemp oil cures cancer. Watch the video. http://www.phoenixtears.ca/

[magallanes Posted May 31st 2010 7:35PM]

- X Cancer proved successful on mices.
- Ask for a Nobel.
- Blackmail other pharmaceutics saying that this vaccine can screw the market of X cancer treatment.
- Flush the vaccine.
- Rinse a Repeat.

[marcwomack Posted May 31st 2010 8:09PM]

My wife's double-d's are very hopeful :)

[Eptin Posted May 31st 2010 9:58PM]

I assume this means that laboratory mice will now have healthy breasts.

---
In all seriousness, this will be an absolutely astounding breakthrough provided it's viable in human medication form.

[bookburnr Posted May 31st 2010 11:34PM]

I visited Dr. Touhy's lab a few weeks ago with a school group (my bio teacher works there part time). There's only a small team in the clinic devoted to this, but Dr. Touhy was very optimistic. Right now he says they need funding more then anything, as the Susan B. Komen group is refusing to give them money for some reason.

[Jergos Posted Jun 1st 2010 1:47AM]

sweet now only 3 more years until they get it in Europe and 50 years till it comes to North America.

[cdf74dc9 Posted Jun 1st 2010 3:58AM]

The cure. Exercise, stop eating processed foods and live a healthier life. It's harder than it sounds. Start working those bods fatty!

[Sheba Posted Jun 1st 2010 9:35PM]

Well that certainly awesome new and definitely makes me feel wonderful that all my contributions to the National Breast Cancer Foundation are that much more fulfilling.

My only bitter regret is that my own mother (great-aunt, and cousin) sadly could not live to see this :(....

But at least my heart will be filled w/ hope that maybe me or my sister, aunts, and cousins (and god-forbid my nieces) will hopefully never have to see this insidious disease again. Thanks Engadget, you have sincerely given the best news in world, for me, today.