Eradication of breast cancer with bone metastasis by autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine (AFTV) combined with palliative radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy: a case report

Abstract

Skeletal metastasis of breast carcinoma is refractory to intensive chemo-radiation therapy and therefore is assumed impossible to cure. Here, we report an advanced case of breast cancer with vertebra-Th7 metastasis that showed complete response to combined treatments with formalin-fixed autologous tumor vaccine (AFTV), palliative radiation therapy with 36 Gy, and adjuvant chemotherapy with standardized CEF (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and 5FU), zoledronic acid, and aromatase inhibitors following mastectomy for the breast tumor. The patient has been disease-free for more than 4 years after the mammary surgery and remains well with no evidence of metastasis or local recurrence. Thus, a combination of AFTV, palliative radiation therapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy may be an effective treatment for this devastating disease.

Figure 1

Images before and after autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine (AFTV) treatment, palliative radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy. a) ^99mTc-whole body scan, b) magnetic resonance image (MRI), and c) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) image before surgical resection of the primary tumor on 31 June 2006. d) Expanded image of ‘a’ at the site of vertebra Th7 on 31 June 2006, e) 1 year later, and f) 4 years later at the same site.