Tumor antigen messenger RNA (mRNA)

Tumor antigen messenger RNA (mRNA) is a therapeutic modality used in cancer immunotherapy to induce a specific immune response against malignant cells (Pardi et al., 2018, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). Unlike traditional vaccines that deliver proteins or inactivated pathogens, these mRNA molecules encode specific tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or patient-specific neoantigens (Sahin et al., 2017, Nature). Upon delivery into the cytoplasm of host cells, typically via lipid nanoparticles, the mRNA is translated by the cellular machinery into antigenic proteins (Barbosa et al., 2023, Pharmaceutics). These proteins are subsequently processed into peptides and presented on the cell surface by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, which activate CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD4+ helper T cells to recognize and eliminate tumor cells (Pardi et al., 2018, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). This approach allows for high precision in targeting cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. mRNA-based therapies are currently being evaluated in clinical trials for various cancers, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and colorectal cancer, often in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2024).

Other names

Cancer vaccine mRNATumor-associated antigen mRNANeoantigen mRNAmRNA-based immunotherapyAntigen-encoding mRNA

Translation of exogenous mRNA into tumor-specific antigens followed by MHC-mediated presentation to activate a T-cell immune response (Pardi et al., 2018, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery).