Friday, July 18, 2025 - Researchers at the University of Florida have developed an experimental mRNA cancer vaccine that could potentially revolutionize how cancer is treated, with the possibility of becoming a “universal cancer jab.”
The breakthrough discovery, published in Nature Biomedical
Engineering, marks a significant stride toward a single vaccine capable of
targeting a wide range of tumours.
The vaccine works in a two-step mechanism often referred to
as a “one-two punch.” First, it activates the immune system, and then it
enhances the immune response against cancer cells. Unlike conventional vaccines
that aim to prevent disease, this jab is intended as a treatment, designed to
amplify the effects of existing immunotherapy.
In trials with mice, the vaccine demonstrated strong
anticancer activity, especially when used in combination with immune checkpoint
inhibitors like PD-1 blockers. In some cases, the jab alone was able to
completely eliminate tumours, including aggressive forms like melanoma and
certain bone and brain cancers.
Dr Elias Sayour, senior author of the study, called the
findings “unexpected and exciting,” highlighting that even non-tumour-specific
mRNA vaccines can elicit tumour-specific responses. He noted the potential for
these vaccines to serve as off-the-shelf treatments that sensitize the immune
system to attack cancerous cells.
The jab increases levels of PD-L1 in tumours, making them
more vulnerable to immunotherapy and aiding immune cells in recognising them as
threats. Lead researcher Dr Duane Mitchell emphasised the broad implications of
this method, stating that the approach could one day “wake up a patient’s own
immune response to cancer,” and if applicable to humans, would be “profound.”
The research team, which has been studying mRNA vaccine
technology for nearly a decade, previously trialled a personalised version of
the jab in four glioblastoma patients with encouraging results. They are now
working to refine the formulation and initiate human clinical trials.
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