Cancer Vaccine Institute News

Dr. Ying Liu presented this study at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium At the UW Cancer Vaccine Institute, we are working to develop vaccines that train the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer. At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, we shared new data comparing two of our HER2-targeted therapeutic vaccine platforms for people with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. About 20% of all breast cancers overexpress the HER2 protein, which can make

The Cancer Vaccine Institute (CVI) was excited to share new results from a multi-center clinical trial led by Moffitt Cancer Center at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. These results offer encouraging evidence for WOKVAC, a HER2-targeted DNA vaccine developed here at the CVI. In this study, Moffitt and collaborating sites evaluated whether HER2 vaccination could help prevent recurrence in patients at especially high risk, including individuals who still have invas

At the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the UW Cancer Vaccine Institute shared new research revealing how a unique population of immune cells, shaped in part by the gut microbiome, may influence breast cancer growth and treatment response. Our team’s findings shed light on these immune cells called BAC‑TA T cells, their presence in newly diagnosed patients, and how precision probiotics could one day help shift the immune environment to better fight tumors. Dr. Denise

The UW Cancer Vaccine Institute is excited to share new findings suggesting that a HER2-targeted cancer vaccine may help protect HER2-positive breast cancer patients from developing brain metastases—one of the most difficult complications to treat. Dr. Candace Haghighi presented these findings at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Dr. Candace B. Haghighi at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium The Highlights: HER2-positive breast cancer has a high risk of s

Photo Credits: Jennifer Childs and Kiran Dhillon The Cancer Vaccine Institute held our first ever patient reunion during the CVI Circle -...