Cancer vaccines could bring in the dawn of a new age of treatments, according to Dr Kyle Holen, the oncology lead for Moderna. The biotechnology company currently has two cancer vaccines in clinical trials, both of which target T cells in the immune system to help fight the disease. One of these vaccines, mRNA-4359, is being used in the global Mobilize trial, which also has a UK arm in London.
The initial focus of this vaccine is on treating melanoma and lung cancer, but there is potential for it to be effective against other types of cancer such as bladder, kidney, and head and neck cancer. Dr Holen expressed excitement about the early results, stating that the risk of recurrence was reduced by more than half in patients with high-risk melanoma who received the vaccine.
The Mobilize trial is still actively recruiting patients, and Moderna expects to report results sometime next year. Dr Holen believes that the success of mRNA technology in developing Covid-19 vaccines has accelerated the development of cancer vaccines using the same technology. He explained that the widespread use of their Covid vaccine has provided valuable safety data, giving them confidence that their cancer vaccine is on the right track.
One of the key differences between cancer vaccines and other immunotherapies is that vaccines can generate a more targeted immune response. Instead of a broad immune reaction that may affect normal cells, the goal of cancer vaccines is to instruct T cells to specifically target cancer cells by expressing antigens on their surface. The side effects of Moderna’s cancer vaccines have been mild, resembling those of a typical flu shot.
While the potential of cancer vaccines is promising, there is still much to learn about why some patients respond well while others do not. Theories suggest that immune system exhaustion or cancer’s ability to evade the immune response could be contributing factors. Dr Holen acknowledges the complexity of the journey ahead in understanding why cancer cells continue to grow despite therapy.
The development of cancer vaccines represents a significant advancement in the field of oncology. With ongoing clinical trials and early positive results, Moderna and other researchers are hopeful that these vaccines will lead to a new era in cancer treatment. As more patients are studied, experts will gain valuable insights into the effectiveness and limitations of this innovative approach.
In conclusion, the potential of cancer vaccines to revolutionize cancer treatment has generated excitement within the medical community. Moderna’s ongoing clinical trials and early positive results demonstrate the promise of targeting T cells through mRNA technology. While challenges remain, the development of safe and effective cancer vaccines could indeed mark the dawn of a new age in the fight against this devastating disease.
