title: The ReNAissanCe of mRNA-based cancer therapy.
abstract: About 25 years ago, mRNA became a tool of interest in anticancer vaccination approaches. However, due to its rapid degradation in situ, direct application of mRNA was confronted with considerable skepticism during its early use. Consequently, mRNA was for a long time mainly used for the ex vivo transfection of dendritic cells, professional antigen-presenting cells known to stimulate immunity. The interest in direct application of mRNA experienced a revival, as researchers became aware of the many advantages mRNA offers. Today, mRNA is considered to be an ideal vehicle for the induction of strong immune responses against cancer. The growing numbers of preclinical trials and as a consequence the increasing clinical application of mRNA as an off-the-shelf anticancer vaccine signifies a renaissance for transcript-based antitumor therapy. In this review, we highlight this renaissance using a timeline providing all milestones in the application of mRNA for anticancer vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Jette, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Lint
authors.forename: Dries
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renmans
authors.forename: Katrijn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broos
authors.forename: Heleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dewitte
authors.forename: Ine
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lentacker
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heirman
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Breckpot
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thielemans
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019444:Vaccines, DNA
keywords: cancer; dendritic cell; immunotherapy; mRNA; vaccine