MADISON (WMSN) -- There's new hope in the fight against breast cancer.



Researchers at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Institute used a protein unique in women who have breast cancer or are breast feeding. They injected that protein into a vaccine, and gave it to genetically altered mice -- mice prone to get breast cancer.



The results were promising.



"The ones that got the vaccine did not get breast cancer. The ones who did not get the vaccine did get breast cancer. And it was 100 percent, meaning all the mice who got the vaccine were protected ," said Dr. Michael Frontiera, Dean Health oncologist.



Dr. Frontiera says scientists have experimented with a breast cancer vaccine for years, but this one's different.



"They're trying to go upstream before the cancer starts to prevent the cancer from developing," Dr. Frontiera said. "The previous vaccines that have been tested so far are for women who've had breast cancer and are trying to prevent recurrence."



Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in women, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 192,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2009 in the U.S.



More than 40,000 people lost the battle last year.



Doctors say the vaccine trials are hopeful, and human testing could start next year, but a vaccine is still years away.



Doctors say the best protection against breast cancer includes regular mammograms, exercise, and a low-fat diet.

Breast Cancer Vaccine