Overview
This Phase 1 study will assess the safety and efficacy (usefulness) of administering 2 doses of seasonal flu vaccine directly into breast cancer tissue (primary tumor), and will study the tumor and whole body response to the vaccine. If the tumor is palpable (able to fee by touch), the vaccine will be administered by a Surgeon/oncologist in the outpatient floor - both experienced and trained. If not palpable, the procedure will be done via guided Ultrasound by our Breast Radiologist -- both experienced and trained. Women with triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2+ types of breast cancer will be eligible for enrollment. Up to 18 subjects may be enrolled at Rush. Successive groups of 3 subjects per breast cancer type will be given increasing doses of vaccine. There are 3 potential dosing groups (half-dose, full dose, and high dose). Blood, stool (optional), and tumor tissue samples will be collected and tested. The active participation period is from one week prior to starting chemotherapy through three months post surgery.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- ECOG 0-2
- Patients must be planning to receive standard of car e neoadjuvant chemotherapy as defined by the most recent version of NCCN guidelines (www.nccn.org)
- Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed invasive breast cancer that is either triple-negative or HER2+ (regardless of hormone receptor status)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with any uncontrolled intercurrent illness.
- Patients who have any underlying medical condition for which, in the investigator's opinion, participation would not be in the best interest of the participant
- History of egg allergy
- Patients currently on anticoagulant therapy, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive agents
- History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to the seasonal flu vaccine.
- History of Guillain-Barré syndrome