Innovations in mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy: Challenges and future directions
1 Department of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.
2 Department of Medicine, St George’s University, Grenada.
3 Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
4 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Veritas University Abuja, Nigeria.
5 Department of Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria.
6 Department of Medicine and Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria.
7 Department of Biological Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria.
Review
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2024, 20(02), 702–724.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2024.20.2.0911
Publication history:
Received on 05 October 2024; revised on 22 November 2024; accepted on 25 November 2024
Abstract:
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have quickly become a potent tool in cancer immunotherapy, with the potential to personalise cancer treatment and get around many of the drawbacks of conventional therapies. With an emphasis on their processes, technological developments, and clinical applications, this study examines the scientific breakthroughs and difficulties surrounding mRNA cancer vaccines. We begin by investigating the ways in which mRNA vaccines work to stimulate the immune system, encode antigens specific to tumours, and elicit a potent anti-tumor response. We also look at the variety of mRNA vaccines which are currently being deployed and emphasize their successes in clinical studies, especially when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The effectiveness and safety of these vaccines have been significantly increased by technological developments, such as enhancements in mRNA stability, design, and delivery systems (such as lipid nanoparticles and polyplexes). Emerging technologies like circular RNA and self-amplifying present promising opportunities for enduring and more potent therapies. But there are still limitations with mRNA vaccines, such as stability, immunogenicity, degradation, and effective in vivo delivery. Concerns about possible adverse effects and safety in long-term applications are also covered in this review. Despite these obstacles, novel approaches are being developed to boost antigen expression, optimize delivery systems, and improve mRNA stability, establishing mRNA vaccines as a crucial component of tailored cancer immunotherapy. These developments provide the foundation for upcoming advances in mRNA vaccine technology and represent a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
Keywords:
Antigen expression; Immunotherapy; mRNA cancer vaccines; mRNA stability; Personalized cancer treatments; Self-amplifying RNA
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0