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Abstract: 

Recent research suggests that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines may enhance cancer immunotherapy by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack tumors. In a study of more than 1,000 patients with advanced melanoma and lung cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors, those who received a Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine within 100 days of treatment initiation were more than twice as likely to survive three years compared with unvaccinated patients. Laboratory studies indicate that mRNA vaccines trigger immune activation that helps overcome tumor defenses, potentially converting “cold” tumors into treatment-responsive ones. A forthcoming clinical trial will test whether COVID-19 mRNA vaccination can improve outcomes in patients undergoing immunotherapy.

Keywords: mRNA Vaccines; Cancer Immunotherapy; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Tumor Immunology; COVID-19 Vaccination

Affiliations:  1: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; 2: University of Florida.