Recent research suggests that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may boost the immune response against tumors in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy, potentially leading to improved survival outcomes.

A study analyzing data from over 1,000 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic melanoma found that vaccinated patients had median survival times of around 37 months for lung cancer and 30 to 40 months for melanoma, compared to approximately 20 to 27 months in unvaccinated patients.

Preclinical studies in mice showed increased T cell infiltration and cytokine production in tumors after vaccination, with human tumor samples also displaying elevated immune markers and PD-L1 levels, supporting the clinical findings.

These findings are early and based on small-scale observations, so further clinical trials are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in tumor reduction and survival improvement.

The research was presented at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress, involving collaborations across institutions like the University of Florida and MD Anderson Cancer Center, funded by the National Cancer Institute and foundations.

Results remained consistent regardless of vaccine manufacturer, number of doses, or timing, indicating a robust immunostimulatory effect of mRNA vaccines.

A large-scale clinical trial is planned through the UF-led OneFlorida+ network to validate these findings and potentially incorporate mRNA vaccines into standard cancer immunotherapy protocols.

Experts caution that these are preliminary results; ongoing research is essential to determine safety, efficacy, and optimal use across various cancers and patient groups.

Funding from the National Cancer Institute supported this research, and the involved researchers hold patents related to UF-developed mRNA vaccines licensed to biotech company iOncologi Inc.

iOncologi has secured a foundational patent for an RNA-based method that enhances tumor responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors, supporting its UNIFYRs platform for broad cancer immunotherapy applications.

Scientific studies published in Nature Biomedical Engineering demonstrate that non-tumor antigen-specific mRNA formulations can amplify early immune responses and reprogram the tumor microenvironment to restore sensitivity to immunotherapies.

Further research, including a Phase III trial led by Dr. Adam Grippin, aims to confirm if mRNA COVID vaccines can become a standard adjunct in cancer immunotherapy, leveraging their safety, cost-effectiveness, and widespread availability.