Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, with Black people facing higher rates and later-stage diagnoses which tend to worsen outcomes. Traditional treatments often fall short, but mRNA vaccines are a promising new approach. By working with the immune system to accurately target cancer cells, mRNA vaccines offer a personalized approach that could improve treatment and survival rates for patients with cancer.
How Do mRNA Vaccines Work?
Unlike traditional cancer treatments such as surgery or radiation and chemotherapy – which can damage both healthy and cancerous cells – immunotherapy methods like mRNA vaccines can specifically target just the cancer cells.
mRNA cancer vaccines instruct the body’s cells to produce proteins that mimic cancer cell antigens. This trains the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer cells, potentially reducing the side effects associated with conventional therapies.
The Promise of mRNA Cancer Vaccines
mRNA vaccines can be personalized and designed to target specific mutations making them customizable to each patient’s condition. This personalized approach is particularly useful for cancers with high mutation rates or those resistant to existing treatments.
Another key advantage of mRNA vaccines is their potential to prevent cancer recurrence. After initial treatment reduces or removes the primary tumor, mRNA vaccines can target remaining cancer cells, potentially lowering the risk of the cancer returning and thus improving long-term survival. This is particularly relevant as Black people have higher cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to other racial groups.
When combined with other therapies, mRNA vaccines may increase the effectiveness of said treatments by enhancing immune system recognition and attack on cancer cells. Clinical trials are currently testing this approach, and early results look promising.
Research and Clinical Trials
Despite their potential, the role of mRNA vaccines in cancer therapy requires further continued research. Clinical trials are ongoing and preliminary results are encouraging, particularly for melanoma and certain lung cancers. New trials and collaborations – like the ones referenced below – are underway to further explore this promising immunotherapy option.
- BioNTech has launched global clinical trials for BNT116, an mRNA vaccine targeting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- The V Foundation for Cancer Research and the University of Florida, have planned a phase I/II trial to evaluate RNA lipid particle (RNA-LP) vaccines for recurrent pulmonary osteosarcoma. This study will assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and is set to conclude by October 2026.
- Both Moderna and Merck have shared promising data on mRNA-4157 (V940) used alongside the cancer drug, Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for high-risk stage III/IV melanoma.
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and CureVac N.V. are developing new mRNA-based cancer vaccines.
The Future of mRNA Vaccines
As research progresses and clinical trials continue, mRNA vaccines may become a cornerstone in cancer treatment, providing new options for patients and potentially transforming outcomes in oncology.
Heather Shaw – a consultant medical oncologist at University College London Hospital – called personalized mRNA vaccines, “one of the most exciting things we’ve seen in a really long time.”
“I think there is a real hope that these will be the gamechangers in immunotherapy,” Shaw explained in an interview with the healthcare industry publication; Advisory Board.
Continued enrollment of diverse patients in clinical trials is key if we’re to pave the way for cancer treatment that benefits all communities and populations.
