mRNA vaccines in the treatment of cancer

Even though studies on mRNA vaccines have been performed since the 1990s, the first clinical trials of their usage were conducted in the late 2010s. The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for effective vaccine development and prompted large-scale research on mRNA vaccines. Large studies enabled the improvement of mRNA vaccine structure and optimization of their delivery platforms, which contributed to a rise in both their efficacy and safety. Currently, mRNA vaccines are used not only in infectious diseases but also are being tested in research on cancer patients. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in mRNA vaccine manufacture seems to be beneficial because it enables preparation of personalized vaccines encoding tumor-specific antigens (TSAs). Tumor-specific antigens-based vaccines are associated with a stronger immune response and lower toxicity compared to non-personalized vaccines. Currently, clinical trials on mRNA vaccines are performed in patients with various types of cancer: pancreatic, non-small-cell lung, prostate cancers as well as melanomas. Due to the benefits of mRNA cancer vaccine administration in monotherapy, their combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been suggested. In this review, we highlight the latest findings on mRNA vaccine development, including the advantages of using NGS during their production. We also summarize the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indications, results of completed clinical trials, and future possibilities of using mRNA vaccines in treatment of cancer patients.