Novel Nano vaccine to treat skin cancer/melanoma

Vaccines & Vaccinology : Novel Nano vaccine for Melanoma

Researchers have developed a novel Nano-vaccine for melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes. Their experiments have proven effective in preventing the development of melanoma and in treating primary tumours and metastases that result from melanoma. The focus of the research was on a nanoparticle that serves as the basis for the new vaccine.

Melanoma develops in the skin cells, which is called the melanocytes, produce melanin or skin pigment. The fight against skin cancer/melanoma is becoming advanced over the years through a variety of treatment modalities & experiments, such as immunotherapy, radiation therapy & chemotherapy, but the vaccine approach, which has a great effect against various viral diseases, has not materialized yet against cancer. Scientists have shown that it is possible to produce an effective Nano-vaccine against melanoma/skin cancer and to sensitize the immune system to immunotherapies.

The researchers harnessed tiny particles, about 170 nanometres in size, made of a biodegradable polymer. Within each particle, two peptide short chains of amino acids are packed, which are expressed in melanoma cells. They the nanoparticles was injected (Nano Vaccines) into a mouse model bearing melanoma.

The nanoparticles acts just like known vaccines for viral-borne diseases. The scientists stimulated the immune system of the mice, and the immune cells learned to identify and attack cells containing the two peptides, that is, the melanoma cells. This meant that, the immune system of the immunized mice will attack melanoma cells if and when they appear in the body. The researchers then examined the effectiveness of the vaccine under three different conditions & they found the positive result in all the cases.

Firstly, they saw that vaccines have prophylactic effects. The vaccine was injected into healthy mice, and an injection of melanoma cells followed. The result was that the mice did not get sick, that means the vaccine prevented the disease.

Secondly, the nanoparticle was used to treat a primary tumour, i.e., a combination of the innovative vaccine and immunotherapy treatments were tested on melanoma model mice. The synergistic treatment significantly delayed the progression of the disease and greatly extended the lives of all treated mice.

Finally, the researchers validated their approach on tissues taken from patients with melanoma brain metastases. This suggested that the Nano-vaccine can be used to treat brain metastases as well.