The rapid clinical validation of mRNA technology during the COVID‑19 pandemic has powerfully accelerated its application in oncology, and this comprehensive review provides a state‑of‑the‑art assessment of mRNA cancer vaccines. It systematically covers the molecular design principles of synthetic mRNA, the diverse antigen‑targeting strategies (from conventional tumor‑associated antigens to patient‑specific neoantigens and non‑canonical sources), the major delivery platforms (lipid nanoparticles, lipoplexes, protamine complexes, and cell‑based systems), and the mechanistic pathways by which these vaccines activate both cellular and humoral antitumor immunity. The review then synthesizes preclinical and clinical evidence across solid tumors—melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, non‑small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma—and hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and multiple myeloma. It also critically discusses current challenges, such as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, delivery barriers, and manufacturing complexities, before outlining future directions that involve next‑generation delivery systems, artificial intelligence‑driven vaccine design, and combination strategies with immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive T‑cell therapies.

Researchers from The University of Osaka found that only a small subset of tumor-killing T cells undergoes extensive expansion during immunotherapy for multiple myeloma. By tracking individual cells, the team showed that the T-cell clones that later became dominant had already begun expanding shortly after the treatment started. The findings also suggest that highly proliferative immune cells show lower levels of exhaustion-related markers, offering new insights into why some patients respond better to immunotherapy.

Three new Virginia Tech studies are taking aim at tobacco use from different angles — from quitting support to purchasing behavior to policy insights — with a focus on reducing cancer risk and improving health outcomes.