Journal Article (Review Article)

DKFZ-2025-02831

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Evolution and trends in non-viral mRNA Cancer vaccines: A scoping review from 2015 to 2025.

Nowzari, F. ; Nowzari, F. ; Kian, M. ; Zahedi, M. ; Samimi, K.DKFZ* ; Karimzadeh, A. ; Tanideh, N. ; Mussin, N. M. ; Tamadon, A.

2026
Elsevier Amsterdam

Abstract: This scoping review synthesizes clinical trials from 2015 to 2025 investigating non-viral messenger RNA (mRNA)-based cancer vaccines, emphasizing trends in delivery platforms-ex vivo dendritic cell (DC) vaccines versus in vivo lipid-based systems-and their association with cancer types. A systematic search of PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov identified 72 early-phase trials, revealing a significant shift from DC-based ex vivo approaches (dominant 2015-2020) to lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based in vivo delivery post-2021 (p = 0.0025), propelled by advancements from COVID-19 vaccines. Statistical analyses, including linear regression and Fisher's exact test, demonstrate a strong association between ex vivo delivery and brain/CNS cancers (p = 0.00042) and no significant correlation between DC vaccine administration routes and cancer types (p = 0.25). The surge in combination immunotherapies, particularly with immune checkpoint inhibitors post-2019, underscores the field's move toward multimodal strategies. This article offers a data-driven roadmap of the field's evolution, highlighting gaps in delivery optimization, reporting transparency, and standardization for future research. Companion articles detail ex vivo DC vaccine strategies and in vivo mRNA vaccine advancements.

Keyword(s): Cancer ; Clinical trials ; Dendritic cells ; Immunotherapy ; Lipid nanoparticles ; Non-viral delivery ; RNA vaccines

Note: Volume 71, 25 January 2026, 128059 / Epub 2025 Dec 5.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Immuntherapie und -prävention (D410)

Research Program(s):

1. 314 - Immunologie und Krebs (POF4-314) (POF4-314)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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