VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
Mol Cancer. 2021 Mar 3;20(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s12943-021-01329-3.
mRNA therapeutics have become the focus of molecular medicine research. Various mRNA applications have reached major milestones at high speed in the immuno-oncology field. This can be attributed to the knowledge that mRNA is one of nature's core building blocks carrying important information and can be considered as a powerful vector for delivery of therapeutic proteins to the patient.For a long time, the major focus in the use of in vitro transcribed mRNA was on development of cancer vaccines, using mRNA encoding tumor antigens to modify dendritic cells ex vivo. However, the versatility of mRNA and its many advantages have paved the path beyond this application. In addition, due to smart design of both the structural properties of the mRNA molecule as well as pharmaceutical formulations that improve its in vivo stability and selective targeting, the therapeutic potential of mRNA can be considered as endless.As a consequence, many novel immunotherapeutic strategies focus on the use of mRNA beyond its use as the source of tumor antigens. This review aims to summarize the state-of-the-art on these applications and to provide a rationale for their clinical application.
mRNA 疗法已成为分子医学研究的焦点。在免疫肿瘤学领域，各种 mRNA 应用迅速达到了重要的里程碑。这是因为人们认识到 mRNA 是自然界核心构建块之一，携带着重要信息，可以被视为向患者递呈治疗性蛋白的强大载体。长期以来，体外转录 mRNA 的主要用途一直是开发癌症疫苗，利用编码肿瘤抗原的 mRNA 修饰体外的树突状细胞。然而，mRNA 的多功能性及其诸多优势已经超越了这一应用。此外，由于 mRNA 分子的结构特性和改善其体内稳定性和选择性靶向的药物制剂的巧妙设计，mRNA 的治疗潜力可以说是无穷无尽的。因此，许多新的免疫治疗策略侧重于将 mRNA 用作肿瘤抗原来源之外的用途。本文旨在总结这些应用的最新进展，并为其临床应用提供依据。
