mRNA cancer vaccine shows 'promising' results, US study finds

A first-ever clinical trial of an mRNA cancer vaccine has shown promising results in fighting brain cancerous cells, a study from the University of Florida has found.

Genetic material, called RNA, was taken from four patients' tumours and was amplified and wrapped to make it appear as though it "looked" like a dangerous virus, before it was reinjected into the bloodstream, prompting a "promising" immune-system response.

Senior author and vaccine pioneer Elias Sayour said the vaccines were personalised to each patient for the best outcome.

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"Instead of us injecting single particles, we're injecting clusters of particles that are wrapping around each other like onions, like a bag full of onions," Sayour said.

"And the reason we've done that in the context of cancer is these clusters alert the immune system in a much more profound way than single particles would.

"In less than 48 hours, we could see these tumours shifting from what we refer to as 'cold' immune cold, very few immune cells, very silenced immune response to 'hot,' very active immune response.

"That was very surprising given how quick this happened, and what that told us is we were able to activate the early part of the immune system very rapidly against these cancers, and that's critical to unlock the later effects of the immune response."

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The patients who took part in the trial lived longer than expected, however, it is too early to determine the clinical effects of the vaccine.

The current standard of care for brain cancers like glioblastoma involves surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

The next step for the vaccine is to expand the clinical trial to include up to 24 adult and paediatric patients.