Cancer Vaccines (CV)
Cancer Vaccines (CV): Types, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications
Cancer vaccines (CV) are a form of immunotherapy designed to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent infectious diseases, cancer vaccines can be either preventive (protecting against virus-induced cancers) or therapeutic (treating existing cancers by targeting tumor-specific antigens)6.
Types of Cancer Vaccines
1. Preventive Cancer Vaccines
These vaccines protect against viruses that can cause cancer:
- HPV Vaccine: Prevents infection with human papillomavirus, significantly reducing the risk of cervical, head and neck, anal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: Prevents hepatitis B virus infection, reducing the risk of liver cancer6.
2. Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines
These are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to target tumor antigens. Several types are under investigation or approved:
- Protein or Peptide Vaccines: Made from specific proteins or protein fragments found in cancer cells, prompting an immune response against cells displaying these antigens2.
- Nucleic Acid-Based Vaccines: Use DNA or mRNA encoding tumor antigens. Once delivered into the body, these nucleic acids are taken up by cells, which then produce the antigen and present it to the immune system. mRNA cancer vaccines, in particular, have shown promise for their specificity and ability to encode multiple antigens or immunostimulatory factors34.
- Cell-Based Vaccines: Include whole-cell vaccines (using entire cancer cells) and dendritic cell vaccines. Dendritic cells are exposed to tumor antigens in the lab and then reintroduced to the patient to prime T cells against the cancer26.
- Virus-Based Vaccines: Use genetically modified viruses (viral vectors) to deliver cancer antigens into the body. The immune system responds to both the virus and the cancer antigen, enhancing the anti-tumor response26.
Mechanisms of Action
Cancer vaccines work by presenting tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) to the immune system, leading to:
- Activation of cytotoxic T cells (CD8+) that can directly kill cancer cells.
- Stimulation of helper T cells (CD4+) and B cells, enhancing the overall immune response.
- Long-term immune memory to help prevent cancer recurrence534.
mRNA vaccines, for example, deliver synthetic mRNA encoding tumor antigens or immunostimulatory factors into cells, which then produce the antigen, leading to robust T cell and antibody responses34.
Approved and Investigational Cancer Vaccines
Approved Therapeutic Vaccines
- Sipuleucel-T (Provenge®): For metastatic prostate cancer. Patient’s immune cells are exposed to a prostate cancer antigen and reinfused, stimulating an immune response6.
- BCG Vaccine: Used intravesically to treat early-stage bladder cancer by activating immune cells in the bladder6.
- T-VEC (Imlygic®): An oncolytic virus-based vaccine for advanced melanoma, genetically modified to promote an anti-cancer immune response6.
Vaccines in Clinical Trials
- mRNA-based vaccines: Custom-made mRNA vaccines targeting specific mutations (e.g., KRAS in pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancers) are in various stages of clinical trials, often in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors346.
- Other peptide, dendritic cell, and viral vector vaccines are being tested for cancers such as head and neck, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancer46.
Challenges and Future Directions
- Tumor-induced immunosuppression and resistance mechanisms can limit vaccine effectiveness5.
- Combination therapies (e.g., with checkpoint inhibitors or cytokines) are being explored to overcome resistance and enhance efficacy45.
- Personalized cancer vaccines using neoantigens unique to each patient’s tumor are a key area of research46.
Summary Table
| Vaccine Type | Example(s) | Mechanism | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preventive | HPV, Hepatitis B | Prevent virus-induced cancers | Approved |
| Protein/Peptide | Various clinical trials | Present tumor antigens | Investigational |
| Nucleic Acid (mRNA/DNA) | mRNA-5671, BNT112, BNT113 | Encode tumor antigens or cytokines | Clinical trials |
| Cell-Based | Sipuleucel-T, dendritic cell | Prime T cells with tumor antigens | Approved/Investigational |
| Virus-Based | T-VEC (Imlygic®) | Viral delivery of tumor antigens | Approved/Investigational |
| Bacterial | BCG (bladder cancer) | Activates local immune response | Approved |
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At DrStemCellsThailand (DRSCT)‘s Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine Center of Thailand, we emphasize comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cells for managing various health conditions. If you have questions about Cancer Vaccines or would like more information on our services, consult with our experts today!
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References
- [Cancer Research UK – Vaccines to treat cancer]2
- [Frontiers in Immunology – Emerging prospects of mRNA cancer vaccines]3
- [Frontiers in Immunology – Recent advances in mRNA cancer vaccines]4
- [PubMed – Therapeutic cancer vaccines]5
- [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Cancer Vaccines]6
Cancer vaccines represent a rapidly advancing field in oncology, with both preventive and therapeutic options. While several vaccines are already approved, ongoing research focuses on improving efficacy, overcoming resistance, and personalizing vaccine strategies to maximize patient benefit.
