Advances of mRNA vaccines in genitourinary cancers

Abstract

The rapid advancements and declining costs of mRNA technology have led to a significant rise in the use of mRNA-based interventions recently. Unlike traditional drug design schemes, mRNA vaccines rely on next-generation sequencing (NGS) results and were designed individually. mRNA vaccine technology enables the encoding of tumor-specific antigens (neoantigens) to activate immune responses and the delivery of cytokines to modulate the tumor microenvironment. It can also introduce tumor suppressor genes to inhibit tumor progression and supply chimeric antigen receptors for T cell-based therapies. mRNA-based approaches have shown great promise in preclinical studies, with several progressing to clinical trials. The established safety and effectiveness of authorized mRNA vaccines, combined with a growing interest in mRNA therapeutics, indicate that mRNA technology is set to play a vital role in advancing cancer treatments. In this review, we summarize the development of mRNA vaccines in genitourinary cancers, encompassing the attributes of diverse synthetic mRNA types, efficient mRNA delivery systems, a spectrum of preclinical and clinical investigations, and the current hurdles and upcoming opportunities within this area.

Keywords: Neoantigen; Prostate cancer; Renal cell carcinoma; Urothelial carcinoma; mRNA vaccines.