Daijiworld Media Network - Gainesville
Gainesville (USA), Aug 23: A team of researchers at the University of Florida has made a significant breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy with the development of an experimental mRNA vaccine. In recent trials, this vaccine succeeded in completely eradicating tumours in mouse models, offering new hope for a universal approach to cancer treatment.
Unlike traditional cancer vaccines that target specific tumour antigens, the Florida team’s novel mRNA vaccine works by robustly activating the body’s full immune response, stimulating type-I interferon activity. "The surprise was that even a non-specific mRNA vaccine can trigger the body’s defence to mount a powerful anti-cancer response," said Dr Elias Sayour, senior author and paediatric oncologist at UF Health.
Researchers observed that the vaccine not only awakened dormant T-cells but also increased expression of the PD-L1 protein, making cancer cells more susceptible to immune attack. The vaccine was effective across different cancer types, including melanoma, bone cancer, and brain cancer, in mouse studies. In some cases, complete tumour disappearance was documented, both with the vaccine alone and in combination with commonly used immunotherapies.
The study, published in the esteemed journal ‘Nature Biomedical Engineering’, suggests this approach may represent a ‘third emerging paradigm’ in cancer vaccine development. Co-author Dr Duane Mitchell explained, “A vaccine designed to produce a strong immune reaction, even without targeting cancer itself, showed exceptional results in awakening patients’ own immune systems.”
This promising work builds on earlier research involving personalized mRNA vaccines for aggressive brain tumours. The team is now working on formulating the vaccine for human trials, with the hope of eventually developing an ‘off-the-shelf’ universal cancer vaccine that could benefit a broad range of patients.
Dr Mitchell sums up the impact: “If these results translate to humans, it could be a profound advancement in the fight against cancer worldwide.”