Dr. Mittendorf on Nelipepimut-S in Breast Cancer

Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, MD, PhD, associate professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses nelipepimut-S (NeuVax) and a proposed trial for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Mittendorf has been involved with the development of nelipepimut-S, an immunodominant nonapeptide that will now be examined in the phase III PRESENT trial for patients with low to intermediate HER2 expression.

Nelipepimut-S was also tested in phase I/II studies and was found to be safe and effective, eliciting an immune response, Mittendorf explains. The vaccine was administered to patients with breast cancer who were found to be disease-free with standard of care therapy, with a purpose to prevent disease recurrence. Enrolled patients, who were at a 20% risk of disease recurrence, were at a 10% risk following treatment with nelipepimut-S.

A proposed trial will examine nelipepimut-S in the adjuvant setting for patients with DCIS. Patients will be vaccinated prior to surgery, and a blood test will determine if patients have an appropriate immune response, Mittendorf says.

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