mRNA COVID Vaccines May be Helping Some Cancer Patients Fight Tumors, Researchers Say

Recent preliminary research suggests that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may offer unexpected benefits for some cancer patients by enhancing their immune response to tumors. A study of nearly 1,000 advanced lung and skin cancer patients at MD Anderson found those who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within 100 days of starting checkpoint inhibitor therapy lived substantially longer than unvaccinated patients.

Researchers propose that the mRNA mechanism “activates immune cells” and may sensitize tumors that otherwise evade immune detection. While further rigorous studies are planned, these findings highlight the potential of mRNA technology to complement cancer immunotherapy, extending beyond its original infectious disease role. Read more from PBS here.