Human trials for a potential universal cancer vaccine are on the horizon, boasting potential efficacy against multiple types of cancer.
In a groundbreaking development for cancer treatment, a new off-the-shelf mRNA vaccine has shown promising results in preclinical trials. The vaccine, designed to stimulate a broad immune response against cancer cells, could potentially revolutionise the way we approach cancer treatment.
The vaccine, detailed in a recent study published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, works by delivering synthetic mRNA encoding tumor-associated antigens into the body. This mRNA is protected and facilitated for cellular uptake by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Once inside antigen-presenting cells (APCs), the mRNA is translated into tumor antigen proteins, which activate cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, helper CD4+ T cells, and B cells, thereby inducing a robust and antigen-specific adaptive immune response.
The two-hit approach of this vaccine aims to save valuable time needed for personalised vaccinations and may induce rapid immunity that can be further seized upon by personalised therapy. This vaccine approach, when tested on its own in mouse models of glioma (brain cancer) and pulmonary osteosarcoma (bone cancer spread to the lungs), showed promising anti-cancer effects.
Diana Azzam, an associate professor, praised the study, stating it could be especially helpful for "cold" tumors that don't trigger a strong immune response, like pancreatic, ovarian, and some types of breast cancer. The new cancer vaccine aims to boost the body's production of type-I interferons, immune messengers that play important roles in controlling inflammation and spotting cancerous tumors.
If type-I interferons signals are blocked, tumor growth goes haywire. The early interferon activity stimulated by the cancer vaccine is crucial for the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a common cancer treatment. The vaccine could potentially be used for secondary prevention, to help stop treated cancers from coming back.
The current study focused on solid tumors, which are more resistant to immunotherapy than blood cancers. However, the researchers believe this approach could be universal for all forms of cancer. Azzam noted that more research is needed to confirm the approach's effectiveness in people, focusing on safety, consistency, and long-term effectiveness in real-world cancer patients.
The researchers have launched a human trial testing a two-hit approach: an off-the-shelf cancer vaccine followed by a personalised one, working with patients with recurrent pediatric high-grade glioma or osteosarcoma. The experimental cancer vaccine is built upon messenger RNA (mRNA), a technology that has already proven successful in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
As we move forward, this off-the-shelf mRNA cancer vaccine could provide a much-needed boost to the arsenal of cancer treatments, offering hope for those battling this disease.
