mRNA cancer vaccine trials begin, offering hope in cancer treatment

The first trials of mRNA vaccines for cancer have commenced, marking a potentially significant breakthrough in cancer treatment.

The medical community and patients are hopeful that if successful, this could add a powerful new tool to existing cancer therapies.

Professor Panos Papageorgis, Dean of the School of Sciences, explained to philenews that this technology is not new, contrary to popular belief.

Research in this area has been ongoing for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated developments. Thanks to generous grants during that time, clinical trials are now underway.

Unlike traditional vaccines or those developed for COVID-19, mRNA cancer vaccines are not preventative but therapeutic. They work by introducing lipid-encased mRNA molecules into the human body, which are then read by enzymes in our cells to produce coded proteins.

These proteins are recognised as foreign elements by the immune system, which then activates to attack cells carrying the mutated proteins, thus combating cancer.

The goal is to enhance the immune system’s response to cancer while leaving healthy cells intact, in contrast to chemotherapy.

Currently, dozens of vaccines are being tested in over 90 studies, with new ones added daily.

It’s estimated that within one to three years, some of these vaccines could receive necessary approvals and be used to treat hundreds of patients.

These vaccines are expected to be used not only as standalone treatments but also to enhance the effectiveness of other immunotherapies.

Dr. Papageorgis also addressed concerns about mRNA vaccines, emphasising that they cannot be incorporated into our DNA or cause mutations, and have a very short lifespan in the body.

Experts highlight that this is the beginning of an exciting era in cancer research. They hope to create personalised vaccines for different types of cancer and for patients with tumours carrying various genetic mutations.

A key advantage is that these vaccines can be produced relatively quickly and modified as the disease evolves.

If successful, cancer vaccines could be just the start. Scientists are optimistic that similar approaches could be developed for other diseases, from seasonal flu to diabetes or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.