Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

Lymph node-positive breast cancer or high-risk lymph node-negative breast cancer. The latter is defined by any one of the following criteria:

T2 disease
Grade 3 disease
Lymphovascular invasion
Estrogen receptor- or progesterone receptor-negative disease
HER2/neu-expressing tumor (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+ and/or amplified fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] >2.2, or N0 (i+))
HER2/neu-expressing tumor (IHC 1-3+ and or positive FISH >1.2)
Completion of primary standard of care breast cancer therapies (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy as appropriate per standard of care for patients' specific cancer)
Clinically cancer-free (no evidence of disease)
Patients may be enrolled between 1-6 months from completion of standard primary breast cancer therapies
Good performance status (as defined in Exclusion Criteria)
Capable of informed consent

Exclusion criteria:

HER2/neu-negative breast cancers (IHC 0)
Clinical and/or radiographic evidence of residual or persistent breast cancer
Receiving immunosuppressive therapy to include chemotherapy, steroids, or methotrexate
In poor health (Karnofsky <60%, ECOG >/-2)
Total bilirubin >1.8, creatinine >2, hemoglobin <10, platelets <50,000, WBC <2,000)
Active interstitial lung disease; asthma requiring more than as needed bronchodilators for management; or other autoimmune lung disease
Pregnancy (urine hCG)
Breast feeding
History of autoimmune disease
Involved in other experimental protocols (except with permission of the other study PI)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

Female or male
Menopausal status not specified
Immunologically intact by recall anergy testing
Negative pregnancy test

Exclusion criteria:

Karnofsky 0-60% or ECOG ≥ 2
Total bilirubin > 1.8 g/dL
Creatinine > 2.0 g/dL
Hemoglobin < 10.0 g/dL
Platelet count < 50,000/mm³
WBC< 2,000/mm³
Active pulmonary disease requiring medication that includes multiple inhalers
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding
History of autoimmune disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Inclusion criteria:

See Disease Characteristics

Exclusion criteria:

Concurrent immunosuppressive therapy including chemotherapy, steroids, or methotrexate
Concurrent participation in another experimental treatment (except with permission of the other study investigator)