New Delhi : The groundbreaking mRNA vaccine that helped the world fight Covid-19 may soon take on a new role—battling lung and skin cancers. Researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Texas call it a defining moment in over a decade of work on mRNA-based therapies designed to “wake up” the immune system against cancer.
Presented at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin, the study revealed a remarkable trend: patients with advanced lung or skin cancer who received a Covid-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy lived significantly longer than those who didn’t.
While the analysis of more than 1,000 patient records is still preliminary, the findings hint at a revolutionary shift in cancer treatment if confirmed in upcoming randomized clinical trials.
“The implications are extraordinary this could revolutionize the entire field of oncologic care,” said Dr. Elias Sayour, pediatric oncologist at the University of Florida.
Dr. Sayour added that researchers could potentially design a universal, off-the-shelf cancer vaccine, mobilizing the immune system to fight cancer in any patient.
Targeting Advanced Lung and Skin Cancer Patients
Messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, found in every cell, carry genetic instructions to make proteins. The Covid-19 mRNA vaccine has now shown promise beyond infectious disease, potentially acting as a nonspecific immune booster against tumors.
The study analyzed data from Stage 3 and 4 non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic melanoma patients treated at MD Anderson between 2019 and 2023. The most dramatic benefits were seen in patients whose tumors were not expected to trigger a strong immune response, demonstrating the vaccine’s potential to reshape treatment outcomes.
“The results from this study demonstrate how powerful mRNA medicines truly are,” said Jeff Coller, a leading mRNA scientist and professor at Johns Hopkins University. “They are revolutionizing the treatment of cancer.”
mRNA Vaccines Could Herald a New Era in Cancer Treatment
With mRNA technology proving its versatility, researchers envision a future where mRNA vaccines not only prevent viruses but also serve as potent weapons against cancer, offering hope for millions worldwide.
–IANS
