Back at the 2005 ASM, DNDN said that it would be meeting with Genentech (DNA) to discuss several matters, including Neuvenge and Herceptin (and probably Trp-p8). Shortly thereafter, DNA announced that they were developing a "conjugated" hmab form of Herceptin which attaches a compound that kills cancer cells to eventually replace the present "naked" hmab form of Herceptin. This development was expected to further improve Herceptin efficacy; very little was said about Neuvenge therafter. There have also been other compounds (lapatinib?) that also target the same receptor. As a result, HER2/neu breast cancer, which was once considered the most deadly, has reportedly become one of the most treatable with median survival running to some 5 years - good for patients but tough for survival based clinical trials. There must be other breast cancer antigen targets that DNDN, CEGE or the adoptive T cell therapies of the NCI can target that would have greater impact on overall breast cancer mortality. There is also growing evidence that when used in proper sequencing with chemo to deplete regulatory T cells (cyclophosamide, taxanes) cancer vaccines and immunotherapies may actually prove effective in advanced stages of cancer. This could allow clinical trials for their use as salvage therapies, which would greatly accelerate the normal time required for regulatory approval. JMHO.
AI
