Cancer vaccines: past, present and future; a review article

Abstract

Immunotherapy and vaccines have revolutionized disease treatment and prevention. Vaccines against infectious diseases have been in use for several decades. In contrast, only few cancer vaccines have been approved for human use. These include preventative vaccines against infectious agents associated with cancers, and therapeutic vaccines used as immunotherapy agents to treat cancers. Challenges in developing cancer vaccines include heterogeneity within and between cancer types, screening and identification of appropriate tumour-specific antigens, and the choice of vaccine delivery platforms. Recent advances in all of these areas and the lessons learnt from COVID-19 vaccines have significantly boosted interest in cancer vaccines. Further advances in these areas are expected to facilitate development of effective novel cancer vaccines. In this review, we aim to discuss the past, the present, and the future of cancer vaccines.

Potential of an anti-bevacizumab idiotype scFv DNA-based immunization to elicit VEGF-binding antibody response

“…Our data bring evidence of a potential vaccine application of the gene of an anti-Id construction conceived from a commercial VEGF-targeting antibody, bevacizumab. Id vaccines have long been considered a treatment option for cancers [ 31 ]. The strategy not only has shown potential to influence tumor growth [ 32 ], but also has demonstrated some clinical benefits in phase I-III trials [ 33 , 34 ], which reinforces the relevance of the Id approaches.…”

Precision Medicine and Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Detection and Treatment of Cancer: Highlights from the 58th IACR Annual Conference

“…Cancer Vaccines are constructed with the goal of inducing an immune response against tumour antigens [ 21 ]. Despite great success with both Human papilloma virus (HPV) [ 22 ] and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) [ 23 ], there have been constraints which dictate the success of the vaccine approach.…”

mRNA anti‐cancer vaccine research gains momentum

“…3 Cancer patients express T cells against antigens on the tumour, for instance. 4 This process, called immune surveillance, eliminates cancerous and precancerous cells before they harm the patient. 3 Indeed, the extent to which immune cells infiltrate the tumour microenvironment correlates with cancer prognosis.…”

“…3 Indeed, the extent to which immune cells infiltrate the tumour microenvironment correlates with cancer prognosis. 4 The immune system's ability to recognise and eliminate malignant cells raises the prospect of using vaccines to treat, and not just prevent, cancer. Early results are encouraging: apart from protecting against tuberculosis, the immune response elicited by the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine can treat primary or recurrent bladder cancer and prevent recurrence following transurethral resection.…”

“…Sipuleucel-T, a vaccine based on dendritic cells (which process and 'present' antigens to other immune cells), is approved in some countries (but not by the NHS) for castration-resistant prostate cancer. 4 Researchers are exploring several other anti-cancer vaccines. Whole tumour cell vaccines use killed tumour cells to stimulate anti-cancer immune responses.…”