UF-Developed mRNA Vaccine Triggers Fierce Immune Response To Fight Malignant Brain Tumor (UF Health Cancer Center)

UF-Developed mRNA Vaccine Triggers Fierce Immune Response To Fight Malignant Brain Tumor

In a first-ever human clinical trial of four adult patients, an mRNA cancer vaccine developed at the University of Florida quickly reprogrammed the immune system to attack glioblastoma, the most aggressive and lethal brain tumor.

(From left) Dr. Elias Sayour, Chong Zhao and Arnav Barpujari discuss the mRNA cancer vaccine developed at the University of Florida.

The results mirror those in 10 pet dog patients suffering from naturally occurring brain tumors whose owners approved of their participation, as they had no other treatment options, as well as results from preclinical mouse models. The breakthrough by UF Health Cancer Center researchers now will be tested in a Phase 1 pediatric clinical trial for brain cancer.

Investments and research infrastructure provided by the UF Health Cancer Center, the McKnight Brain Institute, the Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, and the Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery in the UF College of Medicine made the breakthrough possible, providing the support needed for the researchers to translate the homegrown discovery directly from a UF laboratory to patients in clinical trials at UF Health.

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