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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
07:29
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination Improved Survival in NSCLC Treated With Radiotherapy
Xinyan Xu1, Maliazurina B Saad2, Adam Grippin3
1Department of Thoracic Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Summary
Vaccinating patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) around stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) may improve survival outcomes. This real-world study suggests SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination enhances SABR
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Radiotherapy
Background:
- Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is a standard treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- Strategies to enhance the systemic immune effects of SABR are limited.
- Preclinical data suggest SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines may boost innate immunity and antigen presentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical impact of peri-SABR vaccination on outcomes in early-stage NSCLC patients.
- To determine if SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination can augment radiotherapy-induced immune priming.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 413 real-world patients with T1-3N0M0 NSCLC treated with SABR during the pandemic.
- Included 144 patients vaccinated within 3 months before or after SABR (peri-SABR vaccination).
- Utilized time-varying and propensity score-matched time-dependent analyses.
Main Results:
- Peri-SABR vaccination was associated with improved recurrence-free survival (HR 0.61, P = 0.016) in propensity score-matched analyses.
- Vaccination also showed improved overall survival (HR 0.57, P = 0.029) in matched analyses.
- Time-varying analyses demonstrated similar trends for improved survival outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Peri-SABR vaccination may enhance antitumor immunity induced by SABR in early-stage NSCLC.
- Findings support further investigation into the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination and SABR.
- This approach could represent a novel strategy to improve treatment efficacy in NSCLC.
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