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Review
. 2022 Aug 3:13:942235.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.942235. eCollection 2022.

Colorectal cancer vaccines: The current scenario and future prospects

Wenqing Jia  1   2 , Tao Zhang  1   2 , Haiyan Huang  1   2 , Haoran Feng  1   2 , Shaodong Wang  1   2 , Zichao Guo  1   2 , Zhiping Luo  1   2 , Xiaopin Ji  1   2 , Xi Cheng  1   2 , Ren Zhao  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Colorectal cancer vaccines: The current scenario and future prospects

Wenqing Jia et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Current therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy encounter obstacles in preventing metastasis of CRC even when applied in combination. Immune checkpoint inhibitors depict limited effects due to the limited cases of CRC patients with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H). Cancer vaccines are designed to trigger the elevation of tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes, resulting in the intense response of the immune system to tumor antigens. This review briefly summarizes different categories of CRC vaccines, demonstrates the current outcomes of relevant clinical trials, and provides particular focus on recent advances on nanovaccines and neoantigen vaccines, representing the trend and emphasis of CRC vaccine development.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; immunotherapy; nanovaccines; neoantigen; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and tumor-specific antigens (TSAs). TAAs or TSAs are processed in an order depicted above, including transcription of a genomic locus (TAA) or mutation-containing locus (TSA), translation and posttranslation modification, protein degradation, and MHC molecule loading. After finally being presented on the cell surface, antigens are recognized by T cells via T-cell receptor (TCR) and a sequence of costimulation. APM, antigen-presenting machinery; MHC, major histocompatibility complex.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Various categories of colon cancer vaccines and their mechanisms. Dendritic cell (DC) vaccines utilize DCs loaded with tumor antigens ex vivo or transfected to express tumor antigens. Molecular-based vaccines and cancer cell vaccines stimulate the autologous antigen-presenting cells (APCs), most are DCs. Then, effector immune cells are activated, boosting an instant and long-term antitumor reaction. TAAs, tumor-associated antigens; DAMPs, damage-associated molecular patterns; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; TCR, T-cell receptor.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Classes of nanovaccines. Each class of nanovaccine features multiple subclasses, with some of the most common highlighted. Lipid-based vaccines include liposome-loading peptides (left) and lipid nanoparticle (NP)-loading nucleic acid (right). Polymeric vaccines include polymersome (left) that is able to load antigens inside the shell or directly onto the surface and polymer micelle (right)-wrapping peptides. Inorganic vectors include porous silica, gold NP, quantum dot, etc. Biologically derived vaccines include exosomes from human and outer membrane vesicles from microorganisms. Each class has numerous advantages and disadvantages regarding manufacturing, assembly, delivery, and patient response.
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