COVID-19 vaccines, particularly those based on mRNA like Pfizer and Moderna, could offer an unexpected benefit to cancer patients. Recent research indicates they may boost the immune system to better fight tumors.
Dr. Adam Grippin, from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, explains: "We studied over a thousand patients with lung cancer and melanoma treated with immunotherapy. We found that those who received an mRNA vaccine early in their treatment lived significantly longer than those who did not."
The results reveal that a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine administered within 100 days of starting treatment significantly increases the chances of survival, particularly in patients with advanced lung or skin cancers.
A lead for new therapies
Another specialist points out: "This data is very promising, as it suggests that these vaccines could help the body better defend itself against cancer." However, he specifies that these results still need to be confirmed in more comprehensive clinical trials before any use in routine medicine.
A study of nearly 1,000 patients shows that those vaccinated against COVID-19 are almost twice as likely to be alive three years after treatment.
Dr. Grippin concludes: "The current vaccine could not only strengthen the immune response, but also pave the way for new RNA-based therapies, which are more effective for those who do not respond to conventional treatments."
Unlike traditional vaccines such as those against the flu, mRNA-based vaccines now offer a new perspective in the fight against cancer.
