Cancer Vaccines: Mobilizing Immunity for Targeted Cancer Therapy

OBJECTIVE: Cancer remains the leading cause of mortality in economically developed nations, presenting a major global health burden. Conventional anti-cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often fall short of providing safe, targeted, and long-lasting treatments, particularly for aggressive and metastatic cancer types. METHOD: In recent years, cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising alternative that harnesses the patient's own immune system to recognize and eliminate malignant cells. Among the various immunotherapeutic strategies, cancer vaccines represent a dynamic and rapidly evolving field. These vaccines aim to stimulate or enhance tumor-specific immune responses and are tailored to target the diverse molecular and immunological hallmarks of cancer. RESULT: While several cancer vaccines have gained regulatory approval and entered clinical use, many others remain under investigation, requiring further optimization and evaluation through clinical trials. CONCLUSION: This review provides an overview of both clinically approved and emerging cancer vaccine strategies. Additionally, it examines the underlying factors that influence their clinical efficacy and translational potential, including immune evasion, delivery challenges, and patient-specific variables.