recombinant bovine alpha-lactalbumin

Recombinant bovine alpha-lactalbumin is a prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine antigen currently under investigation for the prevention and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Developed by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic and licensed to Anixa Biosciences, the vaccine utilizes a "retired protein" strategy. Alpha-lactalbumin is a milk protein typically expressed only during lactation; however, it is abnormally expressed in the majority of TNBC tumors. By administering the recombinant bovine version of this protein, which is sufficiently distinct from the human version to break immune tolerance, the vaccine stimulates a T-cell mediated immune response against cells expressing alpha-lactalbumin. This effectively targets emergent cancer cells while sparing healthy non-lactating breast tissue.

Other names

r-bALAbovine alpha-lactalbumin