Cancer is a complex multi-factorial disease that results from many molecular alterations. Among the observed effects are alterations in proliferation, growth, replication, and death of cells. Global genomic analyses coupled to functional assays have shown that altered gene expression is one possible mechanism of disease development. In human cells, genes are decoded in immature messages, which must be processed to generate functional proteins.
Messenger RNA Vaccines: Beckoning of a New Era in Cancer Immunotherapy
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are a relatively new class of vaccines. They combine the potential of mRNA to encode for almost any protein with an excellent safety profile and a flexible production process. During the last decade, the mRNA vaccine approach has been increasingly recognized and viewed as a versatile tool for the development of new innovative therapeutics not only in infectious disease settings but also in cancer. mRNA vaccines traditionally consist of a messenger RNA synthesized by in vitro transcription using a bacteriophage RNA polymerase and a template DNA that encodes the antigen(s) of interest.
Cancer: how one type of RNA could be the future of treatment
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. So, in order to treat or cure almost any disease or condition – including cancer – you first need to have a fundamental understanding of cell biology. While researchers have a pretty good understanding of what each component of a cell does, there are still things we don’t know about them – including the role that some RNAs molecules play in a cell. Finding the answer to this may be key in developing further cancer treatments, which is what our research has sought to uncover.
