Scientias · Science

mRNA Cancer Vaccine: News and Uncertainties

Moderna and Merck are investigating a personalized mRNA vaccine as an adjunct to existing cancer treatments. News surrounding this vaccine is causing much confusion.

In a phase 3 study with approximately 1100 patients with a high risk of melanoma (skin cancer), which had been completely surgically removed, the vaccine was tested. The goal is to train the immune system to detect cancer cells that may have remained.

The vaccine is made after genetic research of each patient's tumor. It contains instructions for up to 34 abnormal proteins that were specific to that tumor, so the immune system can recognize the tumor.

Tumor cells can activate a natural brake on the immune system, preventing them from being attacked. An existing drug, pembrolizumab, is used to reactivate this immune system.

The combination of the personalized mRNA vaccine and pembrolizumab appears to offer additional benefits. It is important to emphasize that this was not a treatment for untreated, metastatic cancer, but an adjunct to an already performed surgery to clear microscopic remnants.

The precise effectiveness of this combination treatment is not yet known. Moderna and Merck have not yet published the results, only indicated that the difference was statistically significant.

It is too early to state that this vaccine cures cancer. The underlying idea is interesting, but the cost, effectiveness, and safety of the treatment still require extensive research.

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