Definition

A therapeutic personalized breast cancer vaccine composed of autologous tumor cells and bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in a liquid vehicle containing formalin, with potential immunomodulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon vaccination, the autologous tumor cells/BCG/formalin-based vaccine, which contains an individual’s unique set of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), may stimulate the immune system to mount a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against the breast cancer cells, resulting in decreased tumor growth. The BCG component serves as an adjuvant, a nonspecific stimulator of the immune response.