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Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research
Published on: November 26, 2015
Cancer vaccines: translation from mice to human clinical trials
Hoyoung Maeng1, Masaki Terabe1, Jay A Berzofsky1
1Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, United States.
Abstract:
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have been a long-sought approach to harness the exquisite specificity of the immune system to treat cancer, but until recently have not had much success as single agents in clinical trials. However, new understanding of the immunoregulatory mechanisms exploited by cancers has allowed the development of approaches to potentiate the effect of vaccines by removing the brakes while the vaccines step on the accelerator. Thus, vaccines that had induced a strong T cell response but no clinical therapeutic effect may now reach their full potential. Here, we review a number of promising approaches to cancer vaccines developed initially in mouse models and their translation into clinical trials, along with combinations of vaccines with other therapies that might allow cancer vaccines to finally achieve clinical efficacy against many types of cancer.
Insights
Therapeutic cancer vaccines are now showing promise by combining immune-boosting strategies with cancer vaccines to enhance T cell responses and achieve clinical efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Therapeutic cancer vaccines aim to utilize the immune system for cancer treatment.
- Historically, cancer vaccines have shown limited success as monotherapies in clinical trials.
- Cancers exploit immunoregulatory mechanisms, hindering vaccine effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel approaches for enhancing cancer vaccine efficacy.
- To explore the translation of preclinical findings into clinical trials.
- To examine combination strategies for improving cancer vaccine outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical mouse models of cancer vaccines.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for therapeutic cancer vaccines.
- Evaluation of combination therapies with cancer vaccines.
Main Results:
- New strategies enhance vaccine potency by modulating immune checkpoints.
- Vaccines previously inducing T cell responses without clinical effect may now succeed.
- Combination therapies show potential for overcoming therapeutic limitations.
Conclusions:
- Modulating the tumor microenvironment alongside vaccination is key.
- Cancer vaccines combined with other therapies may achieve clinical efficacy.
- Advancements offer renewed hope for effective cancer immunotherapy.
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