Chapter 13 - Nucleic acid-based vaccines

Abstract

In recent years nucleic acid-based vaccines (i.e., DNA and RNA) have emerged as an attractive immunotherapeutic approach against cancer due to their ease of manipulation, simple manufacturing process, in vivo stability, and safety. Results from numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that the so-called “third-generation vaccines” are well tolerated by patients and do not trigger major adverse effects. Moreover, DNA and RNA vaccines are also cost effective and can be administered repeatedly for long-term protection. These vaccination platforms can achieve a consistent T-cell response against nonself-antigens (i.e., viral or mutated proteins). Despite all the practical advantages, genetic vaccines still face challenges in inducing potent immune responses to self-antigens, though strategies to overcome this are being developed. In human oncology, the development of vaccines against cancer is gaining increasing importance as a therapeutic approach, which can complement standard chemotherapy and/or other immune therapies to achieve increased survival and improved quality of life for patients.