Cancer Vaccine Unveiled!

Cancer vaccines aim to harness the immune system to eradicate cancer cells. Recent technological advances in mass spectrometry, neoantigen prediction, genetically engineered and drug-inducible mouse models, and single-cell omics have shown a new approach that can help fill this gap.

When normal cells experience DNA damage, they produce proteins on their outer surfaces that act as signals of “kill me” for both T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Thus, the immune system eliminates these marked cells. However, some cancer cells have figured out how to separate these proteins from their surfaces, avoiding detection by the immune system.

Discovery of a New Cancer Vaccine

Researchers have developed a new vaccine for cancer that aims to induce the body to produce antibodies against the “kill me” proteins. This approach effectively locks them on the surfaces of cancer cells and prevents their destruction. Consequently, it primes them for triggering killing responses from T cells and NK cells.

This promising vaccine has demonstrated efficacy in mice with melanoma and triple-negative breast cancer, both of which often metastasize even after surgical removal of existing tumors. After removing tumors through surgery, the researchers administered the vaccine and observed a significant reduction in metastasis. When challenging some of the vaccinated animals with cancer tumors four months later, none of them developed the disease.

Cancer Vaccine and the Potential for Treating Resistant Cancers

Unlike many other cancer vaccines that need personalization for each patient, as they are designed to target specific molecules on the surface of the patient’s tumor, this vaccine can be used without the need for a lengthy and costly personalization process. This is because the “kill me” protein is present in most types of cells. Additionally, since it attracts both T cells and NK cells, it potentially has the ability to treat cancers resistant to other types of cancer vaccines. This approach holds significant potential for treating patients suffering from various types of cancer, showcasing the power of integrating fundamental immunology insights with newly developed technologies. For the latest updates on new drugs, visit the Teogene website.