Summary
New research indicates that mRNA vaccines, originally developed for COVID-19, might help in treating cancer by boosting the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Studies show that cancer patients who received an mRNA vaccine lived longer compared to those who didn't, particularly with hard-to-treat cancers.
Key Facts
- mRNA vaccines were mass-produced for COVID-19 during the global pandemic.
- These vaccines might help the immune system fight cancer tumors, according to new studies.
- Researchers from the University of Florida and MD Anderson Cancer Center shared their findings at a medical conference.
- Their studies included research on mice and analysis of cancer patients' medical records.
- Patients receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine before cancer immunotherapy lived longer.
- For advanced lung cancer patients, survival nearly doubled if they had received the vaccine.
- The findings were consistent regardless of vaccine types and doses.
- The discovery comes amid reduced funding for mRNA research from President Trump's administration.
