Does Pregnancy Immunize Against Breast Cancer

摘要

Epidemiological evidence suggests that pregnancy at an early age and multiparity provide protection against the development of breast cancer. However, the mechanism(s) of this protection remains unclear. Endocrinological factors have been proposed to play a role. In addition, a few studies have suggested that immunological factors may be involved. We are interested in these latter immununological factors. Our overall objective is to answer the question: Does pregnancy immunize against breast cancer and can this explain, at least m part, the protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer. Our hypothesis is that immune responses generated against normal breast tissue antigens during pregnancy/lactation protect against subsequent development of breast cancer by targeting the same antigens expressed on breast cancer cells. Our long range goals are to determine how pregnancy might immunize against breast cancer, identify the antigens involved, and use this information for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this study, we generated phage display libraries from breast cancer cell lines and screened these libraries with sera from nulliparous or multiparous women to identity antigens that were specifically recognized by only the multiparous sera. If pregnancy is immunizing against breast cancer, then the antigens identified from these studies may be ideal candidates for preventative vaccines.