Evaluation of: Fotin-Mleczek M, Duchardt KM, Lorenz C et al.:
Messenger RNA-based
vaccines with dual activity induce balanced TLR7-dependent adaptive immune responses and provide antitumor activity. J. Immunother. 34(1), 1-15 (2011). Two decades ago,
mRNA was proposed as an active
pharmaceutical ingredient for the
therapy of
cancer. Although direct delivery of
mRNA to mice was shown to be feasible,
mRNA has been mainly used for ex vivo modification of antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells. Fotin-Mleczek et al. introduces a two-component
mRNA vaccine, consisting of
antigen mRNA (
firefly luciferase,
ovalbumin or prostate
carcinoma-specific
antigen) and
mRNA that is formulated in
protamine as a source of not only
antigen but also
Toll-like receptor 7 ligands. Direct administration of the
mRNA vaccine in mice results in sustained humoral and cellular immune responses, comprising, among others,
antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells that mediate strong antitumor responses, in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of
mRNA vaccines to induce immune responses and mediate sustained antitumor activity.