Susan M. Domchek, MD

2007-2008 BCRF Project:
Made possible with generous support from Boscov's, in memory of Reba Boscov Lakin
Co-Investigator: Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, D.Phil, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania

The overall purpose of the project led by Drs. Domchek and Vonderheide is to test if a novel vaccine against breast cancer can lower the risk of cancer recurrence when given to patients after their initial diagnosis and treatment. The targets of the vaccine are the proteins telomerase and survivin, both of which are almost always found in breast cancer but rarely in normal cells. Each of these proteins plays a critical role in the malignant biology that keeps a cancer cell growing like a cancer cell, and therefore, they are ideal targets for novel therapy.

The researchers have shown in the laboratory that both telomerase and survivin can become bull's eyes for the human immune system. Following encouraging results from an initial clinical trial of patients with metastatic breast cancer, they now propose to test this vaccine in patients who are at high risk for cancer recurrence despite standard treatment of their breast cancer. In this trial, patients would undergo all available and standard therapies and then join the trial to be vaccinated eight times over six months and followed for side effects, survival and immune response. Eventually, a vaccine against telomerase and survivin could also become a strategy for the primary prevention of breast cancer. The prospect of such "vaccine prevention" would be particularly important for individuals with BRCA1/2 mutations or other risk factors for the development of breast cancer.

Mid-Year Progress Report:
Drs. Domchek and Vonderheide have shown in the laboratory that both telomerase and survivin can become bull’s eyes for the human immune system. During the last few months, they have initiated a clinical trial for patients with stage IV breast cancer which employs a novel method to deplete immune suppressive cells prior to administering the vaccine. No toxicities have been observed, and most patients have demonstrated a robust immune response. Further analysis is ongoing. The researchers’ ultimate plan is to test this treatment in patients who are at high risk for cancer recurrence despite standard treatment of their breast cancer.

Bio:
Dr. Susan Domchek is Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She is a member of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania and she is the Director of the Cancer Risk Evaluation Program that focuses on genetic evaluation and medical management of patients and individuals with BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 mutations and other inherited risk factors for cancer. Dr. Domchek graduated from Dartmouth College and received her M.D. from Harvard Medical School. She completed her clinical training at the Massachusetts General Hospital as a resident in Internal Medicine and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a fellow in hematology and oncology. She was chief resident in medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and joined the University of Pennsylvania faculty in 2001.