MRNA VACCINES APPLICATION IN CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Sayanth S.*, Satish S. and A. Ramakrishna Shabaraya

ABSTRACT

mRNA therapy is a novel anticancer strategy based on in vitro transcription (IVT), showing potential for treating malignant tumors, which remain the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. Cancer immunotherapies aim to activate host anti-tumor immunity and modify the suppressive tumor microenvironment, reducing tumors and increasing patient survival rates. Cancer vaccines, acting on tumor-associated or tumor-specific antigens (TAA or TSA), offer effective prophylactic and therapeutic options due to immunologic memory, providing specific, safe, and well-tolerated therapy. However, challenges exist, such as allergic reactions to PEG components in LNP-encapsulated mRNA, which can induce severe allergic reactions due to IgE- mediated responses. Repeated vaccine administration may also cause liver toxicity due to slow degradation of delivery materials. In conclusion, mRNA vaccines significantly advance cancer immunotherapy by inducing antitumor adaptive immune responses and suppressing tumor cells. Personalized mRNA vaccines, produced using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, represent a new direction in precision cancer therapy. Future studies should focus on overcoming existing challenges and combining mRNA cancer immunotherapy with other treatments to enhance clinical outcomes and personalized cancer care.

Keywords: mRNA vaccines, Immunotherapy, LNP, IVT.