Recent Advances in Breast Cancer Vaccine Research

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although advances in diagnosis and treatment have contributed to improved prognoses, recurrence and therapeutic resistance remain prevalent, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this context, cancer vaccines have emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic strategy, aiming to elicit tumor-specific immune responses against malignant cells. This article provides a systematic overview of vaccine platforms currently under investigation for breast cancer. Recent breakthroughs—including mRNA/saRNA technologies, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems, and artificial intelligence for epitope prediction—have ushered in a new era of vaccine design and personalization. Preclinical and phase I–II clinical data have demonstrated robust immunogenicity and favorable safety
profiles, especially when used in combination with other immunotherapies. However, several barriers remain to be addressed, including the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), molecular heterogeneity, limitations in delivery platforms, and challenges in clinical trial design.