mRNA vaccines as cancer therapies

Abstract. Cancer remains a major global health challenge, with conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy often hindered by significant side effects, lack of specificity, and limited efficacy in advanced cases. Among emerging therapeutic strategies, mRNA vaccines have shown remarkabl...

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Main Authors: Shaoxiong Huang, Haiying Que, Manni Wang, Xiawei Wei, Yanjie Yin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2024-12-01
Series:Chinese Medical Journal
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003455
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author Shaoxiong Huang
Haiying Que
Manni Wang
Xiawei Wei
Yanjie Yin
author_facet Shaoxiong Huang
Haiying Que
Manni Wang
Xiawei Wei
Yanjie Yin
author_sort Shaoxiong Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. Cancer remains a major global health challenge, with conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy often hindered by significant side effects, lack of specificity, and limited efficacy in advanced cases. Among emerging therapeutic strategies, mRNA vaccines have shown remarkable potential due to their adaptability, rapid production, and capability for personalized cancer treatment. This review provides an in-depth analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines as a therapeutic approach for cancer immunotherapy, focusing on their molecular biology, classification, mechanisms, and clinical studies. Derived from reported literature and data on clinicaltrials.gov, it examines studies on mRNA vaccines encoding tumor-specific antigens (TSAs), tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), immunomodulators, and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) across various cancer types. The review highlights the ability of mRNA vaccines to encode TSAs and TAAs, enabling personalized cancer treatments, and classifies these vaccines into non-replicating and self-amplifying types. It further explores their mechanisms of action, including antigen presentation and immune activation, while emphasizing findings from clinical studies that demonstrate the potential of mRNA vaccines in cancer therapy. Despite their promise, challenges remain in enhancing delivery systems, improving immunogenicity, and addressing tumor heterogeneity. Overcoming these obstacles will require further investigation to fully harness the potential of mRNA vaccines in personalized cancer treatment.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer
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series Chinese Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-acf1763b24e54fe3986b0068031757ee2025-01-10T01:10:24ZengWolters KluwerChinese Medical Journal0366-69992542-56412024-12-01137242979299510.1097/CM9.0000000000003455202412200-00004mRNA vaccines as cancer therapiesShaoxiong Huang0Haiying Que1Manni Wang2Xiawei Wei3Yanjie Yin1 Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, National/State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China1 Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, National/State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China1 Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, National/State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China1 Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, National/State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, ChinaAbstract. Cancer remains a major global health challenge, with conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy often hindered by significant side effects, lack of specificity, and limited efficacy in advanced cases. Among emerging therapeutic strategies, mRNA vaccines have shown remarkable potential due to their adaptability, rapid production, and capability for personalized cancer treatment. This review provides an in-depth analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines as a therapeutic approach for cancer immunotherapy, focusing on their molecular biology, classification, mechanisms, and clinical studies. Derived from reported literature and data on clinicaltrials.gov, it examines studies on mRNA vaccines encoding tumor-specific antigens (TSAs), tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), immunomodulators, and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) across various cancer types. The review highlights the ability of mRNA vaccines to encode TSAs and TAAs, enabling personalized cancer treatments, and classifies these vaccines into non-replicating and self-amplifying types. It further explores their mechanisms of action, including antigen presentation and immune activation, while emphasizing findings from clinical studies that demonstrate the potential of mRNA vaccines in cancer therapy. Despite their promise, challenges remain in enhancing delivery systems, improving immunogenicity, and addressing tumor heterogeneity. Overcoming these obstacles will require further investigation to fully harness the potential of mRNA vaccines in personalized cancer treatment.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003455
spellingShingle Shaoxiong Huang
Haiying Que
Manni Wang
Xiawei Wei
Yanjie Yin
mRNA vaccines as cancer therapies
Chinese Medical Journal
title mRNA vaccines as cancer therapies
title_full mRNA vaccines as cancer therapies
title_fullStr mRNA vaccines as cancer therapies
title_full_unstemmed mRNA vaccines as cancer therapies
title_short mRNA vaccines as cancer therapies
title_sort mrna vaccines as cancer therapies
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003455
work_keys_str_mv AT shaoxionghuang mrnavaccinesascancertherapies
AT haiyingque mrnavaccinesascancertherapies
AT manniwang mrnavaccinesascancertherapies
AT xiaweiwei mrnavaccinesascancertherapies
AT yanjieyin mrnavaccinesascancertherapies