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Chen B, Yang Y, Wang X, Yang W, Lu Y, Wang D, Zhuo E, Tang Y, Su J, Tang G, Shao S, Gu K. mRNA vaccine development and applications: A special focus on tumors (Review). Int J Oncol 2024; 65:81. [PMID: 38994758 PMCID: PMC11251742 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2024.5669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is characterized by unlimited proliferation and metastasis, and traditional therapeutic strategies usually result in the acquisition of drug resistance, thus highlighting the need for more personalized treatment. mRNA vaccines transfer the gene sequences of exogenous target antigens into human cells through transcription and translation to stimulate the body to produce specific immune responses against the encoded proteins, so as to enable the body to obtain immune protection against said antigens; this approach may be adopted for personalized cancer therapy. Since the recent coronavirus pandemic, the development of mRNA vaccines has seen substantial progress and widespread adoption. In the present review, the development of mRNA vaccines, their mechanisms of action, factors influencing their function and the current clinical applications of the vaccine are discussed. A focus is placed on the application of mRNA vaccines in cancer, with the aim of highlighting unique advances and the remaining challenges of this novel and promising therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bangjie Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Yipin Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Wenzhi Yang
- First Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - You Lu
- First Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Daoyue Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Enba Zhuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Yanchao Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Junhong Su
- Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Guozheng Tang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lu'an Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, Anhui 237008, P.R. China
| | - Song Shao
- Department of Orthopedics, Lu'an Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, Anhui 237008, P.R. China
| | - Kangsheng Gu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
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Luo Y, Lu C, Huang Y, Liao W, Huang Y. Identification of colon adenocarcinoma necroptosis subtypes and tumor antigens for the development of mRNA vaccines. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32531. [PMID: 38952359 PMCID: PMC11215264 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a serious public health issue due to high incidence and mortality rate. This study aimed to identify possible tumor antigens and necroptosis subtypes of COAD for the development of mRNA vaccines and the selection of appropriate patients for precision therapy. Methods Gene expression profiles and clinical information for COAD were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus, respectively. We comprehensively studied the alterations in necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) using cBioPortal, and screened the hub NRGs associated with the prognosis of patients with COAD using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2. Consensuses clustering analysis was performed to identify necroptosis subtypes. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify the co-expression modules of the NRGs. The necroptosis landscape of COAD was assessed using graph learning-based dimensionality reduction. Finally, a drug sensitivity analysis of the two necroptosis subtypes was performed. Findings Two tumor antigens, BLC-2-associated X protein (BAX) and interleukin 1 beta (IL1B) were identified based on their associations with prognosis of patients and antigen presenting cell infiltration. Two necroptosis subtypes (N1 and N2) were distinguished in patients with COAD, and they were characterized by their differential survival status and molecular expression levels of immune checkpoint proteins and immunogenetic cell death modulators. Furthermore, the necroptosis landscape of COAD indicated that individual patients had obvious heterogeneity. Co-expression modules were identified using WGCNA, and the hub NRGs were found to be involved in various immune processes. Drug sensitivity analysis indicated that there were significant differences in drug sensitivity between the N1 and N2 subtypes. Cell experiments suggested that both overexpression of BAX and IL1B promoted necroptosis of COAD cells and enhanced the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. Interpretation BAX and IL1B are potential antigens for the development of anti-COAD mRNA vaccines, specifically for patients with the N2 subtype. Consequently, this study will guide the development of more effective immunotherapeutic approaches and the identification of appropriate patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Luo
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, No. 187, Guanlan Road, Longhua District, Shenzhen 518110, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Caijie Lu
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, No. 187, Guanlan Road, Longhua District, Shenzhen 518110, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yiwen Huang
- Department of Emergency, Nansha Hospital, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weihua Liao
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou Nansha District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No. 103, Haibang Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou 511457, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yaoxing Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, No. 187, Guanlan Road, Longhua District, Shenzhen 518110, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Zhang Y, Zhang M, Song H, Dai Q, Liu C. Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Polymer-Based RNA Delivery Systems for Cancer Treatment. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400278. [PMID: 38803312 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapeutics offer a broad prospect in cancer treatment. However, their successful application requires overcoming various physiological barriers to effectively deliver RNAs to the target sites. Currently, a number of RNA delivery systems based on polymeric nanoparticles are developed to overcome these barriers in RNA delivery. This work provides an overview of the existing RNA therapeutics for cancer gene therapy, and particularly summarizes those that are entering the clinical phase. This work then discusses the core features and latest research developments of tumor microenvironment-responsive polymer-based RNA delivery carriers which are designed based on the pathological characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. Finally, this work also proposes opportunities for the transformation of RNA therapies into cancer immunotherapy methods in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahan Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Haiqin Song
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Qiong Dai
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Chaoyong Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
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Jolly KJ, Zhang F. IVT-mRNA reprogramming of myeloid cells for cancer immunotherapy. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2024; 100:247-288. [PMID: 39034054 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2024.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
In the past decade, in vitro transcribed messenger RNAs (IVT-mRNAs) have emerged as promising therapeutic molecules. The clinical success of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have demonstrated that IVT-mRNAs can be safely and successfully used in a clinical setting, and efforts are underway to develop IVT-mRNAs for therapeutic applications. Current applications of mRNA-based therapy have been focused on (1) mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer treatment; (2) protein replacement therapy; (3) gene editing therapy; and (4) cell-reprogramming therapies. Due to the recent clinical progress of cell-based immunotherapies, the last direction-the use of IVT-mRNAs as a therapeutic approach to program immune cells for the treatment of cancer has received extensive attention from the cancer immunotherapy field. Myeloid cells are important components of our immune system, and they play critical roles in mediating disease progression and regulating immunity against diseases. In this chapter, we discussed the progress of using IVT-mRNAs as a therapeutic approach to program myeloid cells against cancer and other immune-related diseases. Towards this direction, we first reviewed the pharmacology of IVT-mRNAs and the biology of myeloid cells as well as myeloid cell-targeting therapeutics. We then presented a few cases of current IVT-mRNA-based approaches to target and reprogram myeloid cells for disease treatment and discussed the advantages and limitations of these approaches. Finally, we presented our considerations in designing mRNA-based approaches to target myeloid cells for disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevon J Jolly
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
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Tan H, Yu T, Liu C, Wang Y, Jing F, Ding Z, Liu J, Shi H. Identifying tumor antigens and immuno-subtyping in colon adenocarcinoma to facilitate the development of mRNA vaccine. Cancer Med 2022; 11:4656-4672. [PMID: 35593226 PMCID: PMC9741973 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mRNA vaccine has provided a promising approach for cancer immunotherapies. However, only a few mRNA vaccines have been developed against colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). Screening potential targets for mRNA vaccines from numerous candidates is a substantial challenge. Considering the tumor heterogeneity, only a subset of patients might respond to vaccinations. This study was conducted to identify potential candidates for mRNA vaccines, and distinguish appropriate subgroups of COAD patients for vaccination. A total of five tumor antigens with prognostic values were identified, including IGF2BP3, DPCR1, HOXD10, TRIM7, and ZIC5. The COAD patients were stratified into five immune subtypes (IS1-IS5), according to consensus clustering analysis. Higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) was observed in IS1 and IS5 subtypes. The IS1 and IS5 subtypes have shown the baseline of immune-hot tumor microenvironment, while other subtypes displayed immune desert phenotype. Distinct expressions of immune checkpoints (ICPs)-related genes and immunogenic cell death (ICD) modulators were observed among five immune subtypes. Finally, the immune landscape was conducted to narrow the immune components for better personalized mRNA-based vaccination. The IFIT3, PARP9, TAP1, STAT1, and OAS2 were confirmed as hub genes, and COAD patients with higher expressions of these genes might be more appropriate for mRNA vaccination. In conclusion, the IGF2BP3, DPCR1, HOXD10, TRIM7, and ZIC5 were identified as potential candidates for developing mRNA vaccines against COAD, and patients in IS1 and IS5 subtypes might respond better to mRNA vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaicheng Tan
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Ting Yu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Chunhua Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Fangqi Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhenyu Ding
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Jiyan Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Huashan Shi
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Department of RadiotherapyCancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
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Ke Y. Perspectives on mRNA Vaccine Development for Cancer. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2022; 42:592-593. [DOI: 10.1089/jir.2022.0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Youqiang Ke
- Department of Molecular & Clinical Cancer Medicine, Liverpool University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Duan Q, Hu T, Zhu Q, Jin X, Chi F, Chen X. How far are the new wave of mRNA drugs from us? mRNA product current perspective and future development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:974433. [PMID: 36172353 PMCID: PMC9510989 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.974433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
mRNA products are therapies that are regulated from the post-transcriptional, pre-translational stage of a gene and act upstream of protein synthesis. Compared with traditional small molecule drugs and antibody drugs, mRNA drugs had the advantages of simple design, short development cycle, strong target specificity, wide therapeutic field, and long-lasting effect. mRNA drugs were now widely used in the treatment of genetic diseases, tumors, and viral infections, and are expected to become the third major class of drugs after small molecule drugs and antibody drugs. The delivery system technology was the key to ensuring the efficacy and safety of mRNA drugs, which plays an important role in protecting RNA structure, enhancing targeting ability, reducing the dose of drug delivery, and reducing toxic side effects. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) were the most common delivery system for mRNA drugs. In recent years, mRNA drugs have seen rapid development, with the number of drugs on the market increasing each year. The success of commercializing mRNA vaccines has driven a wave of nucleic acid drug development. mRNA drugs were clinically used in genetic diseases, oncology, and infectious diseases worldwide, while domestic mRNA clinical development was focused on COVID-19 vaccines, with more scope for future indication expansion.
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