Irish study is first to highlight potential of mRNA vaccine in treating deadly childhood cancer<\/p>\n
Irish researchers have published the first pre-clinical evidence of the promising effects of an mRNA vaccine in treating one of the deadliest forms of childhood cancer.<\/p>\n
Neuroblastoma mainly occurs in children under 14 and is the most common cause of cancer in infants of 1-2 years of age. Between five and ten neuroblastoma cases are diagnosed in Ireland every year, with the disease accounting for around 15 per cent of cancer-related deaths in children.<\/p>\n
Researchers based in RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences found that the vaccine, which helps the immune system recognise and fight neuroblastoma, delayed tumour development in preclinical models by 10-11 days and significantly reduced the tumour size by 70 per cent.<\/p>\n
Currently neuroblastoma remains one of the most difficult-to-treat childhood cancers, with 80 per cent of patients showing no significant response to current treatments.<\/p>\n
The potential of mRNA as an approach in treating and preventing a range of cancers through targeting the immune system has been raised in profile since mRNA COVID-19 vaccines proved a turning point in the global pandemic.<\/p>\n
Clinical trials around the world have already shown significant promise for mRNA in delaying recurrence and extending survival in highly aggressive diseases like melanoma, lung cancer, and pancreatic tumours.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mRNA vaccine technology is like LEGO bricks. By combining different bricks, we can tailor the vaccine to the individual\u2019s needs with high precision,\u201d said senior author of the study, Dr Olga Piskareva.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis pilot study indicates promising potential in the development of anticancer vaccines for neuroblastoma, offering new hope for children and families suffering from the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are at the beginning of the mRNA vaccine development road, but the first milestone has been successfully completed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research focussed on the peptide nanoparticles in the development of the vaccine. These nanoparticles are designed to target Glypican 2 (GPC2), a protein found on the surface of neuroblastoma cells.<\/p>\n
Given the added difficulty in treating recurring neuroblastoma \u2013 with the cancer often becoming resistant to existing therapies \u2013 the researcher hope that their finding could help address this challenge.<\/p>\n
They also see significant promise in their discovery leading to treatment advances in other child and adult tumours. \u201cGPC2 is upregulated across multiple adult and pediatric cancer subtypes, establishing this vaccine as an attractive immunotherapy with far-reaching potential,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n
The study was carried out in collaboration with the School of Pharmacy at Queen\u2019s University of Belfast and was supported by The Conor Foley Neuroblastoma Cancer Research Foundation.<\/p>\n