The Next Cancer-Fighting mRNA Vaccine May Already be Here

Early research suggests that mRNA Covid vaccines may enhance cancer immunotherapy by helping the immune system better recognize and attack tumors. Findings presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology show that cancer patients who received an mRNA Covid vaccine within 100 days before starting immunotherapy lived nearly twice as long as those who didn’t.

The vaccines appear to “superdrive” dendritic cells—immune cells that signal T cells to target cancer—potentially placing mRNA vaccines in a “Goldilocks zone” of immune activation. While results are promising, researchers emphasize the need for Phase 3 trials to confirm whether mRNA vaccines can safely and effectively boost cancer treatment outcomes. Read more from CNN here.