Jia Yimin, Zhu Hui, Cai Xinyu, Sun Cun, Ye Yan, Cai Dingyi, Yang Shuaifei, Cheng Jingjing, Gao Jining, Yang Yun, Zeng Hao, Zou Quanming, Li Jieping, Sun Hongwu, Wang Wenxiu
Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China.
Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Vaccines (Basel). 2025 Mar 31;13(4):378. doi: 10.3390/vaccines13040378.
Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, and vaccine administration is an effective way to stimulate immune responses in patients and to achieve preventive and therapeutic effects. Few vaccines have been used in clinical settings because they have poor immunogenicity, and it is difficult to induce a robust immune response in patients. An adjuvant is an important component of a vaccine that can enhance the intensity, speed, and duration of immune responses. The achievements of adjuvants in the production of stable, safe, and immunogenic tumor vaccines have aroused the enthusiasm of researchers. Recent results have suggested that plant-derived adjuvants have unique advantages, such as greatly improving immune responses to cancer vaccines and promoting humoral and cellular immunity with good biocompatibility and biodegradability. When these adjuvants are used in combination with vaccines, they can not only activate the immune response in vivo but can also promote cytokine secretion and accelerate dendritic cell maturation. This review focused on the application progress of plant adjuvants, including saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and plant virus-like particles, and their combination with nano-delivery systems in cancer vaccines. At the same time, we have also discussed the immunomodulatory mechanisms of these adjuvants and their prospects for improving vaccine efficacy in the treatment of cancer in the future. These promising plant adjuvants may provide prospects and a research basis for the development of tumor vaccines.
癌症是全球主要的死亡原因之一，疫苗接种是刺激患者免疫反应并实现预防和治疗效果的有效方法。由于免疫原性差，很少有疫苗应用于临床，难以在患者体内诱导强烈的免疫反应。佐剂是疫苗的重要组成部分，可增强免疫反应的强度、速度和持续时间。佐剂在生产稳定、安全且具有免疫原性的肿瘤疫苗方面所取得的成果激发了研究人员的热情。最近的研究结果表明，植物源佐剂具有独特优势，如能极大地增强对癌症疫苗的免疫反应，促进体液免疫和细胞免疫，且具有良好的生物相容性和生物降解性。当这些佐剂与疫苗联合使用时，它们不仅能在体内激活免疫反应，还能促进细胞因子分泌并加速树突状细胞成熟。本综述重点关注了植物佐剂的应用进展，包括皂苷、多糖、黄酮类化合物和植物病毒样颗粒，以及它们与纳米递送系统在癌症疫苗中的联合应用。同时，我们还讨论了这些佐剂的免疫调节机制及其未来在提高癌症治疗中疫苗疗效方面的前景。这些有前景的植物佐剂可能为肿瘤疫苗的开发提供前景和研究基础。
