Challenges and New Directions in Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Development

Vaccines (Basel). 2024 Nov 28;12(12):1341. doi: 10.3390/vaccines12121341.

Abstract

Tumor vaccine is a promising immunotherapy for solid tumors. Therapeutic tumor vaccines aim at inducing tumor regression, establishing durable antitumor memory, and avoiding non-specific or adverse reactions. However, tumor-induced immune suppression and immune resistance pose challenges to achieving this goal. In this article, we review multiple challenges currently faced in the development of therapeutic tumor vaccines, with a particular focus on anonymous antigen vaccines in situ as a new direction. We summarize the research progress in this area, aiming to provide a reference for future studies on tumor vaccines.

Keywords: anonymous antigen vaccines; cancer vaccine; immunotherapy drug; predefined antigen vaccine; tumor immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Macau Science and Technology Development Fund, grant number [FDCT 0148/2022/A3 and 0019/2024/RIA1], and the APC was funded by [FDCT 0148/2022/A3].