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mRNA Covid vaccines spark immune response that may aid cancer survival

a day ago
  • #immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • #mRNA vaccines
  • #cancer immunotherapy
  • mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may extend the lives of cancer patients by boosting immunotherapy effectiveness.
  • A study of nearly 1,000 advanced skin and lung cancer patients showed vaccinated individuals lived nearly twice as long as unvaccinated ones when treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
  • mRNA vaccines trigger an innate immune response, enhancing T-cell activity against tumors.
  • Combining checkpoint inhibitors with mRNA vaccines appears more effective than either treatment alone.
  • The findings were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress, with plans for a clinical trial to confirm results.
  • mRNA vaccines may have anti-tumor effects even without checkpoint inhibitors, though further research is needed.
  • Funding cuts for mRNA vaccine development in the US could hinder future medical advancements.