Emergence of mRNA vaccines in the management of cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

mRNA vaccines have been developed as a promising cancer management. It is noted that specification of the antigen sequence of the target antigen is necessary for the design and manufacture of an mRNA vaccine.

Areas covered

The steps involved in preparing the mRNA-based cancer vaccines are isolation of the mRNA cancer from the target protein using the nucleic acid RNA-based vaccine, sequence construction to prepare the DNA template, in vitro transcription for protein translation from DNA into mRNA strand, 5’ cap addition and poly(A) tailing to stabilize and protect the mRNA from degradation and purification process to remove contaminants produced during preparation.

Expert opinion

Lipid nanoparticles, lipid/protamine/mRNA nanoparticles, and cell-penetrating peptides have been used to formulate mRNA vaccine and to ensure vaccine stability and delivery to the target site. Delivery of the vaccine to the target site will trigger adaptive and innate immune responses. Two predominant factors of the development of mRNA-based cancer vaccines are intrinsic influence and external influence. In addition, research relating to the dosage, route of administration, and cancer antigen types have been observed to positively impact the development of mRNA vaccine.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer
• preventive
• vaccination
• vaccine delivery
• vaccine preparation

Article highlights

• There are two types of mRNA vaccine which are non-replicating mRNA and replicating mRNA. Non-replicating mRNA vaccine has the benefits of the transcript can be produced more economically and integrated into lipid nanoparticles more easily.

• Replicating mRNA has received a lot of attention due to its long-lasting effectiveness and low dosage requirement.

• Synthetic mRNA molecules used in the mRNA vaccines regulate the production of the antigen that will trigger an immunological response.

• Preparation of mRNA-based cancer vaccine includes isolation of mRNA vaccine, sequence construction, in vitro transcription, 5’ cap addition, poly(A) tail production, and purification of DNA template.

• Early cancer vaccination therapies relied on self-antigens known as tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and tumor-specific antigens (TSAs).

• RNA vaccine is superior to DNA vaccine; it only needs to enter the cytoplasm to transfect a cell, lacks oncogenic potential which prevents integration into the genome and acts as an adjuvant by transmitting costimulatory signals through the toll-like receptors.

• Two major factors of the development of mRNA-based cancer vaccines are intrinsic influence and external influence.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or material discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or mending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia via Research Grant PDUPT for 2021–2022.