# Development of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine

> **NIH NIH R41** · IMMUNOQ THERAPEUTICS INC. · 2022 · $395,738

## Abstract

ABSTRACT (no more than 30 lines of text)
HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for 20-30% of all breast cancer incidences. Although there are small
molecule inhibitors targeting the HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase and therapeutic antibodies specific for the
HER2 protein, tens of thousands of patients still die of late-stage HER2-positive breast cancer every year.
In the pursuit for novel and effective treatments, we recently developed a therapeutic cancer vaccine for
HER2-positive breast cancer. This vaccine is composed of HER2-specific antigen peptides and soluble
adjuvants that are loaded into the nanopores of a porous particulate adjuvant. The final therapeutic vaccine
product has a number of unique properties that makes it highly effective including, but not limited to,
maintenance of vaccine particle integrity for coordinated functions, preferential uptake and transport by
dendritic cells, synergistical stimulation of dendritic cells by promoting secretion of type I interferons and
TNF-a, and long-term vaccine activity as a result of sustained release of antigen peptides and soluble
adjuvants. Our preliminary studies with murine HER2-positive tumors have revealed that vaccine treatment
can stimulate proliferation of HER2 antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and infiltration of T cells into the tumor
bed, leading to inhibition of both primary and metastatic tumors. In addition, vaccination does not cause
detectable adverse side effects, making it an excellent candidate drug. In this STTR phase I project, we
propose studies to further understand the mechanism of action from the therapeutic cancer vaccine and to
establish human disease relevance. In the Aim 1 study, we will test the hypothesis that conventional
dendritic cells are essential for anti-tumor activity from the vaccine. In the Aim 2 study, we will test the
hypothesis that anti-tumor activities observed in murine tumor models can be replicated in humanized mice
bearing human HER2-positive cancers. During the course of the study, we will also establish a set of assays
for quality control and quality assurance. Upon completion of these studies, we will submit a phase II
proposal to support investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies in preparation for human clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10324856
- **Project number:** 1R41CA265459-01
- **Recipient organization:** IMMUNOQ THERAPEUTICS INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Haifa Shen
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $395,738
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-06 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10324856

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10324856, Development of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine (1R41CA265459-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10324856. Licensed CC0.

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