RNA Cancer Vaccines: A Promising Tool in the Fight Against Cancer
The latest RNA cancer vaccines; Gardasil, Provenge and Moderna
RNfinity | 17-02-2023Across the world, millions of individuals
suffer from cancer. It is characterised by abnoramal cell division that can
spread to other bodily regions and harm organs and tissues. For many years,
traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and
surgery have been the go-to solutions for fighting cancer. These procedures
can, however, be harmful to normal tissue and function and have adverse side
effects. RNA cancer vaccines have become a potential weapon in the war against
cancer in recent years. In this article, we will discuss how RNA cancer
vaccines were developed and how they work, examples of RNA cancer vaccines, how
effective they are, and future developments.
How RNA Cancer Vaccines were Developed and
How They Work
RNA cancer vaccines were created using the
same basic concepts as conventional vaccinations. Conventional vaccines
stimulate the immune system to detect and neutralize a specific pathogen.
Similar to traditional vaccinations, RNA cancer treatments target cancer cells
rather than infections. These vaccines work by inducing an immunological
response in the immune system, teaching it how to recognise and attack cancer
cells.
Small bits of RNA with instructions to create
particular proteins present in cancer cells are the basis of RNA cancer
vaccines. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) ingest the RNA after it has been
introduced into the body, digest it, and then display the cancer cell proteins
to T cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the
immune system. When T cells recognize the cancer cell proteins, they become
activated and start to attack the cancer cells.
Examples of RNA Cancer Vaccines
In recent years, a number of RNA cancer
vaccines have been created. One example is the Gardasil vaccine, which is meant
to prevent cervical cancer. The Gardasil vaccine targets the human
papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that can cause cervical cancer. Little RNA
fragments that code for the HPV proteins make up the vaccination. Injecting the
vaccine into the body prompts the immune system to identify and target the HPV
proteins, thus shielding against the virus' ability to cause cervical cancer.
Another example of an RNA cancer vaccine is
Provenge, which is used to treat advanced prostate cancer. The Provenge
vaccination works by aggregating on a specific protein found in prostate cancer
cells. The patient's own immune cells are taken out of the body, altered with
the RNA vaccine, and then reinjected to form the vaccine. After T cells are
activated to target the cancer cells by the transformed immune cells, the
cancer is successfully treated.
The Moderna cancer vaccine is also an RNA
cancer vaccine that has been in the news recently. Melanoma, lung cancer, and
breast cancer are just a few of the cancers that the Moderna vaccine is
intended to protect against. The vaccine works by encoding for specific
proteins found in cancer cells. When the vaccine is injected into the body, it
stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer cells,
effectively preventing the cancer from developing.
How Effective are RNA Cancer Vaccines?
RNA cancer vaccines have shown promise in
clinical trials, with some vaccines showing significant results in treating and
preventing cancer. For instance, it has been demonstrated that the Provenge
vaccination increases overall survival in individuals with advanced prostate
cancer. In a clinical trial, patients who received the Provenge vaccine had a
median survival of 4.1 months longer than those who received a placebo.
Similar evidence supports the great efficacy
of the Gardasil vaccination in preventing cervical cancer. Up to 90% of
cervical malignancies brought on by HPV have been demonstrated in clinical
studies to be prevented by the vaccination.
The Moderna cancer vaccine is still in
clinical trials, but early results have been promising. In the coming years, it
is likely that RNA cancer vaccines will continue to be an important area of
research and development, with the potential to provide effective and
innovative therapies for many cancers.
Future Developments of RNA Cancer Vaccines
RNA cancer vaccines have showed promise in
human trials, but much more study is required before they can be completely
developed. RNA cancer vaccines can present a number of difficulties during
production and storage, which may restrict their accessibility and efficacy.
Researchers are presently developing new technologies and techniques to get
around these challenges and increase the use and effectiveness of RNA cancer
vaccines.
The following are some RNA cancer vaccines’
potential future developments:
Personalized Vaccines: As mentioned earlier, the Provenge vaccine is made up of the
patient’s own immune cells, which are extracted, modified with the RNA vaccine,
and then re-injected. This approach, known as personalized vaccines, allows for
a more targeted and effective treatment of cancer. In the future, researchers
may develop more personalized RNA cancer vaccines that are tailored to the
specific characteristics of each patient’s cancer.
Improved Manufacturing: One of the challenges of RNA cancer vaccines is that they can be
difficult and expensive to manufacture. Yet, new methods are being developed by
academics to improve the manufacturing process’ efficiency and profitability.
For example, some companies are using nanotechnology to encapsulate the RNA in
tiny particles, which can improve its stability and make it easier to transport
and store.
Combination Therapy:
Another approach that researchers are exploring is combining RNA cancer
vaccines with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation
therapy. This approach could help to increase the effectiveness of the vaccines
and provide a more comprehensive treatment for cancer.
New Targets: While
current RNA cancer vaccines target specific proteins found in cancer cells,
researchers are also exploring new targets for these vaccines. For example,
some researchers are developing RNA vaccines that target the immune system
itself, with the goal of boosting the immune response to cancer cells.
New Applications:
In addition to preventing and treating cancer, RNA vaccines may have other
applications in the future. For example, researchers are exploring the use of RNA
vaccines to treat infectious diseases, such as the flu and COVID-19. These
vaccines work in a similar way to RNA cancer vaccines, by training the immune
system to recognize and attack specific pathogens.
Conclusion
RNA cancer vaccines are a new and promising technique
in the fight against cancer, providing a targeted and effective treatment
without the harmful side effects of traditional cancer treatments. RNA cancer
vaccines use small RNA fragments to teach the immune system to recognize and
attack cancer cells, and they have shown significant results in clinical
trials. RNA cancer vaccines are being developed for a wide range of cancers,
and future developments include personalized vaccines, improved manufacturing
techniques, combination therapy, new targets, and new applications. While RNA
cancer vaccines present certain challenges, such as the difficulty and expense
of manufacturing, researchers are developing new technologies and techniques to
improve their efficacy and accessibility. Overall, RNA cancer vaccines
represent an exciting area of research and development that may provide new and
innovative treatments for cancer patients in the coming years.
RNA cancer vaccines have the potential to be an
effective strategy for treating many cancers. While they are still in the early
stages of development, RNA cancer vaccines have shown promise in clinical
trials and researchers are actively working on improving their effectiveness
and accessibility. In the future, we may see more personalized vaccines,
improved manufacturing techniques, combination therapies, new targets, and new
applications for RNA vaccines. These developments could help to transform the
way we prevent and treat cancer, offering new hope for patients and their
families.
References:
Moderna. Moderna's mRNA technology.